Maurizio Pompili1, Luca Bonanni2, Flavia Gualtieri2, Giada Trovini2, Severino Persechino3, Ross J Baldessarini4. 1. Dept. of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorders Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA. Electronic address: maurizio.pompili@uniroma1.it. 2. Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. 3. Dept. of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Dermatology Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. 4. International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorders Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Evidence of increased suicidal risk in association with psoriasis is growing, but findings concerning atopic dermatitis are inconsistent. METHODS: We systematically reviewed reports of suicidal ideation, attempts, or suicides among subjects diagnosed with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis compared to healthy controls or persons with other illnesses. Reported rates of suicidal ideation and behavior were compared among the groups, using meta-analyses to compare suicidal rates with dermatologic patients versus controls, as well as between dermatological diagnoses. RESULTS: Mean rates of suicidal ideation with psoriasis were 1.60-fold (13.9%/8.67%) above controls, and with atopic dermatitis, 1.84-fold higher (16.8%/9.12%); meta-analyses found similar differences: psoriasis (OR = 1.97 [CI: 1.26-3.08]; p = 0.003) and atopic dermatitis (OR = 2.62 [1.32-5.19]; p = 0.006). For suicidal acts, with psoriasis, mean rates versus controls were 2.51-fold higher (3.34%/1.33%), and 2.81-fold higher (5.03%/1.79%) with atopic dermatitis; meta-analyses found significantly more suicidal acts with psoriasis (OR = 1.42 [1.05-1.92]; p = 0.02) and a similar tendency with atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.53 [0.96-2.45]; p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings support emerging evidence of increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior with psoriasis and extend it to increased risk of suicidal ideation and a trend toward increased suicidal acts with atopic dermatitis.
OBJECTIVE: Evidence of increased suicidal risk in association with psoriasis is growing, but findings concerning atopic dermatitis are inconsistent. METHODS: We systematically reviewed reports of suicidal ideation, attempts, or suicides among subjects diagnosed with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis compared to healthy controls or persons with other illnesses. Reported rates of suicidal ideation and behavior were compared among the groups, using meta-analyses to compare suicidal rates with dermatologic patients versus controls, as well as between dermatological diagnoses. RESULTS: Mean rates of suicidal ideation with psoriasis were 1.60-fold (13.9%/8.67%) above controls, and with atopic dermatitis, 1.84-fold higher (16.8%/9.12%); meta-analyses found similar differences: psoriasis (OR = 1.97 [CI: 1.26-3.08]; p = 0.003) and atopic dermatitis (OR = 2.62 [1.32-5.19]; p = 0.006). For suicidal acts, with psoriasis, mean rates versus controls were 2.51-fold higher (3.34%/1.33%), and 2.81-fold higher (5.03%/1.79%) with atopic dermatitis; meta-analyses found significantly more suicidal acts with psoriasis (OR = 1.42 [1.05-1.92]; p = 0.02) and a similar tendency with atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.53 [0.96-2.45]; p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings support emerging evidence of increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior with psoriasis and extend it to increased risk of suicidal ideation and a trend toward increased suicidal acts with atopic dermatitis.