Depression in patients with functional itch disorder

Abstract

Objective: Patients with pruritus sine materia (PSM) are often misdiagnosed as idiopathic pruritus (pruritus of unknown origin) when the cause of pruritus is not found. Some of these patients may be diagnosed with functional itch disorder (FID) which is also known as psychogenic pruritus (pruritus of psychological origin). Since antidepressants can be used in the treatment of psychogenic pruritus, the differentiation of FID from idiopathic pruritus is important. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression in patients with FID. Materials and Methods: A total of 117 patients with FID who were diagnosed as idiopathic pruritus or PSM in their previous assessments and 117 controls took part in the research. The psychiatric assessment for depression was conducted using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) major depression criteria. The study employed a descriptive and cross-sectional method. Results: Forty-four patients with FID (37.6%) had major depression (DSM-5) and 74 patients with FID (63.2%) had clinically significant depression (BDI). The frequency of depression among FID patients was significantly higher than controls. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of diagnosing FID in patients with PSM. The presence of FID diagnostic criteria in a patient should prompt dermatologists for a psychiatry consultation.