Cross-sectional study of psychiatric comorbidities in patients with atopic dermatitis and nonatopic eczema, urticaria, and psoriasis.

Hye-Jin Ahn,Ah Rang Cho,Jong-Kil Seo,Bark-Lynn Lew,Su Jin Jeong,Sun-Hee Choi,Min Kyung Shin

doi:10.2147/ndt.s191509

Abstract

Background: Recent data suggest depression has been linked to chronic skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD), urticaria, and psoriasis. This study compared mental illnesses in patients with AD with those of patients with nonatopic eczema, urticaria, and psoriasis in Korea.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, analyzing data from the 2015 Korean National Health Insurance Research Database, a survey of 42,641 AD and 139,486 non-AD (nonatopic eczema, urticaria, and psoriasis) patients (103,938 males, 78,189 females) classified by age: infant, aged 0–3 years; early childhood, aged 4–8 years; late childhood, aged 9–12 years; adolescent, aged 13–18 years; adult, aged 19–64 years; elderly, aged above 65 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed, and the odds ratio (OR) of various mental illnesses – attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), conduct disorder, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, schizophrenia, and sleep disorder – were calculated for patients with and without AD.Results: The incidence of depression was not significantly different between AD and non-AD patients. Severe AD showed a high OR of depression (moderate AD OR=1.75; severe AD OR=3.15, P<0.0001). Patients with AD had significantly higher incidence of ADHD (OR=1.48; 95% CI=1.27–1.72), ASD (OR=1.54; 95% CI=1.19–1.99), and conduct disorder (OR=2.88; 95% CI=1.52–5.45).Conclusion: Patients with AD were not found to have higher incidence of depression than non-AD patients. However, severe AD patients were determined to have a significantly higher incidence of depression. Therefore, the severity of dermatitis is thought to contribute to depression. Mental illnesses found to be significantly higher in AD patients were ADHD, ASD, and conduct disorder.

Highlights

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that may persist into adulthood, is associated with intense pruritus, high rates of sleep disturbance, and poor quality-of-life.[1,2] The prevalence of AD is 15–20% among children, and 1–3% among adults worldwide.[3]
Patients with AD demonstrated increased prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (OR=1.48; 95% CI=1.27–1.72), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (OR=1.54; 95% CI=1.19–1.99), and conduct disorder (OR=2.88; 95% CI=1.52–5.45), and lower prevalence of anxiety submit your manuscript | www.dovepress.com
While the results showed that the prevalence of ADHD (OR=1.25; 95% CI=1.06–1.48) and conduct disorder (OR=2.74; 95% CI=1.30–5.78) increased in patients with AD, there was no significant difference in ASD

Summary

Introduction

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that may persist into adulthood, is associated with intense pruritus, high rates of sleep disturbance, and poor quality-of-life.[1,2] The prevalence of AD is 15–20% among children, and 1–3% among adults worldwide.[3]. A wide range of dermatologic disorders, such as AD, psoriasis, and chronic urticaria, have been reported to be associated with depression.[9] The objective of our study was to perform a comprehensive comparison of mental illnesses in all age groups of patients with AD and patients with other chronic skin disease through a large population-based survey in Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, analyzing data from the 2015 Korean National Health Insurance Research Database, a survey of 42,641 AD and 139,486 non-AD (nonatopic eczema, urticaria, and psoriasis) patients (103,938 males, 78,189 females) classified by age: infant, aged 0–3 years; early childhood, aged 4–8 years; late childhood, aged 9–12 years; adolescent, aged 13–18 years; adult, aged 19–64 years; elderly, aged above 65 years.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion