Psychiatric morbidity in patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a common skin disorder that is associated with impairments in quality of life (QOL) and psychological distress. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and determinants of psychiatric morbidity (ie, psychiatric disorders) in 104 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis who presented to the Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology at a tertiary-level teaching hospital in North India. A 2-stage, cross-sectional study using standardized self-assessment questionnaires assessing psoriasis severity and QOL were administered followed by an evaluation conducted by a psychiatrist. Our findings suggest a need for effective screening for psychiatric disorders in psoriasis patients, greater sensitivity among dermatologists to the association of impairments in QOL and psychiatric morbidity with this condition, and collaboration with mental health professionals to ensure better treatment outcomes in psoriasis patients.