An international research team analyzed study data on psychological distress in adult acne patients from 13 European countries. The results indicate that psychological comorbidities are common in this patient population and should be taken seriously.
Data analysis was based on a multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study in 13 European countries [1,2]. Of the total 3635 outpatients in the main study, data were provided for 213 acne patients, while 213 age- and sex-matched control subjects were randomly selected from 1359 healthy individuals. The mean duration of skin disease was 5.8 ± 5.2 years. Statistical analysis showed that the acne patients had higher HADS scores for anxiety (6.70 ± 3.84)* and depression (3.91 ± 3.43) than the control group (both p<0.001). Of the patients with acne, 40.6% said they were very concerned about their skin condition. Of the 26 (12%) patients with suicidal ideation, 10 (5%) reported that acne was the cause of their suicidal ideation. The HADS scores for anxiety and depression and the EuroQol-5D scores were not correlated with disease severity or duration, but only with the level of concern about the disease. According to the authors, this is an indication that individual factors are decisive for the psychosocial stress of acne patients and, if necessary, a complementary psychotherapeutic treatment could be useful.
* Mean ± standard deviation
The HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) [3] is a well-validated scale for assessing depression and anxiety. It includes seven items assessing anxiety and seven items assessing depression, each with four response options. The EuroQol-5D provides a simple descriptive profile and index score for general health and includes firstly five questions on mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, discomfort, anxiety, depression and secondly a Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) [4].
Literature:
- Altunay IK, et al: Acta Derm Venereol. 2020 Feb 5; 100(4): adv00051.
- Dalgard FJ, et al: The psychological burden of skin diseases: a cross-sectional multicenter study among dermatological out-patients in 13 European countries. J Invest Dermatol 2015; 135: 984-991.
- Zigmond AS, Snaith RP: The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1983; 67: 361-370.
- EuroQol G: EuroQol – a new facility for the measurement of health-related quality of life. Health Policy 1990; 16: 199-208.
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