Could Psoriasis Increase the Risk of Developing Depression?

Patients with psoriasis could have an increased risk of developing depression, according to a recent study.

For the study, researchers examined data from 12,382 patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Out of the psoriasis patients examined, 16.5% met the criteria for major depression, and the odds of having major depression were doubled in patients with psoriasis, compared to patients without.
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Researchers observed a consistent, significant association between conditions even after they adjusted for risk factors including physical activity, body mass index, gender, age, race, history of stroke, heart attack, and diabetes mellitus, and history of smoking and alcohol use.

Initially, researchers believed that the risk of depression would be directly associated with the severity of the patient’s psoriasis, however, the research revealed that this is not the case.

Instead, they suggest that it may have more to do with a patients view of themselves, and public stigma that can come with the highly-visible skin condition.

Further research is needed to investigate the nature of the association, researchers noted.

“There may be some biologic or genetic factors in play that we are not aware of yet.”

“Psoriasis has far-reaching implications for patients’ physical and mental health, and that can include an increased risk of depression. I encourage all psoriasis patients to see a board-certified dermatologist for treatment, which may help improve their quality of life,” he concluded.

The complete study was presented at the Academy of Dermatology’s 2015 Summer Academy Meeting in New York.

-Michelle Canales Butcher

Reference:

American Academy of Dermatology. Research links psoriasis, depression. August 2015. www.aad.org/stories-and-news/news-releases/research-links-psoriasis-depression. Accessed August 20, 2015.