Psychiatric Comorbidities in Dermatological Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Psychiatric co morbidities are found to be common among dermatological conditions. It not only effects the course of dermatological conditions but also aggravates it. It also effects the quality of life of the patients. However, there is a paucity of Indian studies and there is a need to study theshort-term prevalence of psychiatric disorders in these conditions.

Aim and Objectives: We aim to find the prevalence of psychiatric morbidities and quality of life in the patients with dermatological conditions. The study also aims to assess the coping mechanisms in dermatology conditions with the co morbidity of psychiatric conditions.

Methodology:100 patients who are clinically diagnosed to have dermatological disorder by the dermatologist presenting to either Outpatient Unit or Inpatient Unit of Dermatology Department of the AVBRH hospital will be selected via purposive sampling. Psychiatric co morbidities will be assessed using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale(HADS). Quality of life and coping mechanisms will be assessed using Dermatology Index Scale(DLQI) and Coping Orientation to Problems experienced(COPE) respectively. Later associations will be made using appropriate statistical methods

Results: The Outcome of this study will help in establishing the prevalence of psychiatric co morbidities in dermatological conditions. The association between presence of psychiatric co morbidities, quality of life and coping mechanisms will be established.

Conclusion: With this study we will be able to assess the prevalence of psychiatric conditions in patients with dermatology conditions. It will answer whether prevalence of psychiatric conditions have any effect on quality of life and the kind of coping mechanisms used by them.