PSYCHODERMATOLOGY
An overview of the intersection between dermatology and psychiatry.
introduction
Psychodermatology is a term used to reflect the interaction of the skin and mind in a disease process. It refers to a group of disorders that have physical manifestations on the skin along with psychosocial components. This field focuses on treating the psychological factors in the disorder to supplement the treatment of the dermatologic condition.
ASSESMENT
Psychodermatological disorders can be classified into four different categories:
-
Psychophysiological disorders
-
Primary psychiatric disorders
-
Secondary psychiatric disorders
-
Cutaneous sensory disorders
Assessment tools for psychodermatological disorders include the following questionnaires:
-
The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) or Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI)
-
The Person-Centered Dermatology Self-Care Index (PeDeSI)
-
The Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI)
-
The Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) questionnaire
LIST OF CONDITIONS
There are a variety of psychiatric conditions that overlap with dermatologic concerns and vice versa.
treatment
Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological options are considered in the treatment of psychodermatological conditions, and depend on the disorder being treated.
Content developed by: Mirha Zohair
Edited by: Caden Carver, Lauren Fraess, Iryna Savinova