Abstract
Introduction: Previous studies have emphasized the relation between psoriasis and psychological disorders. This study was conducted to investigate the frequency of psychiatric disorders in patients with Psoriasis in the region of Azerbaijan.
Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Psoriasis were examined by a dermatologist recorded each patient’s Psoriasis type, disease status (local-general), site of involvement (in cases with local psoriasis), and disease severity based on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), disease duration, and demographic information. Data was statistically analyzed by SPSS/Ver 22 software.
Results: Fifty-four patients were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 41.76±16.17 years. The mean PASI index was 13.8±16.8. Twenty-seven patients (50%) were normal in psychiatric examinations. Among people with psychiatric disorders (50%), the most common was Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) which was seen in 13 patients (24.1%). There was no statistically significant relationship between types of psychiatric disorders and gender (P=0.515), age (P=0.506), and duration of disease (P=0. 471). Nevertheless, there was a significant difference between patients with co-morbidity of psychiatric disorders and PASI rate (P= 0.020).
Conclusion: Half of the Psoriasis patients generally had a psychiatric disorder. The most frequent was GAD. There was no significant relationship between psychiatric disorders in Psoriasis patients and gender, age, and duration of disease. However, the rate of psychiatric disorders increased with the severity of Psoriasis skin lesions.