Secondary Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with Skin Diseases

Secondary psychiatric disorders develop during the course of a chronic dermatological illness. These include depression, anxiety, psychosis, adjustment disorders, substance use disorders, and delirium. Due to stigma associated with psychiatric disorders among patients and the barriers to assessment in a dermatology clinic (time, knowledge, and skills), the psychiatric comorbidities are often not identified and rarely treated even though they cause significant morbidity. Patients with chronic skin diseases should be regularly screened for psychological distress and managed in liaison with mental health professionals. This narrative review summarizes the latest available literature and discusses the epidemiology, etiology, and management of secondary psychiatric disorders among patients with dermatological disorders. Early recognition and management of psychiatric disorders among patients with dermatological illness can improve their quality of life.