Psychiatric comorbidities in hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa

Abstract

The findings of most studies suggest that depression and anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric comorbidities in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS/AI). In aprospective study, 51patients with HS/AI were further examined for psychiatric comorbidity using astandardized interview and questionnaires. In psychiatric examination, 29.4% of HS/AI patients had additional mental symptoms, mainly manifested as depressive disorder. The HS/AI patients were rather young and female, and they showed ahigh incidence of nicotine and alcohol use, and apositive family history of paternal alcohol dependence. In addition, HS/AI patients experienced more severe psychosocial impairments in the form of lack of partnership and lower school attainment. Acne inversa is asevere chronic inflammatory skin disease that, like other inflammatory dermatoses, is associated with mental comorbidity and psychosocial impairments. Since especially young patients are affected, apsychiatric-psychotherapeutic cotreatment should be considered already at an early stage.