Year: 2025
Type: review
Abstract: Background: Psychodermatology is an interdisciplinary field that examines the complex interplay between psychological factors and dermatological symptoms.While emotional stress is known to influence many skin diseases, there remains limited awareness of psychiatric disorders that primarily manifest through selfinflicted skin lesions.Aim: The purpose of this narrative review is to present current knowledge on selected psychiatric conditions with primary dermatological manifestations, with an emphasis on clinical features, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic approaches.Material and methods: Authors conducted literature review using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, focusing on publications relevant to the topic of publication.After exclusion, 61 records were identified as meeting predefined criteria.Results: The reviewed conditions show diverse clinical presentations, often mimicking primary dermatological diseases, which complicates diagnosis.All four disorders share common features, such as impaired impulse control, psychiatric comorbidities (e.g., depression, anxiety, and obsessivecompulsive disorder), and a chronic, relapsing course.Neurobiological and psychological mechanisms are multifactorial and not yet fully understood.Effective treatment requires an interdisciplinary approach combining pharmacotherapy (e.g., SSRIs, antipsychotics) and psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy.Early diagnosis and collaboration between dermatologists and psychiatrists significantly improve outcomes.Conclusions: Psychiatric disorders that appear as skin conditions are still difficult for doctors to diagnose.To improve management of psychodermatoses, more focus should be put on creating interdisciplinary teams, setting clear diagnostic criteria and bringing more awareness of the topic among physicians.More research should focus on clarifying what causes development of psychodermatological disorders and setting up effective treatment guidelines.
Source: Medical Science
Authors: Anita Szymańska, Marta Dzieciątkowska, Weronika Pierudzka, Agnieszka Mariowska, Paulina Horwat
Institution: Poznan University of Medical Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4413960378