BACKGROUND: Psoriasis has been associated with depressive disease and case reports of completed suicide. METHODS: 217 consenting psoriasis patients completed the Carroll Rating Scale for Depression (CRSD), a 52-item self-rated scale, with four of the items directly addressing wishes to be dead and suicidal ideation. The patients also self-rated the severity of their psoriasis. RESULTS: 9.7% of patients reported a wish to be dead, and 5.5% reported active suicidal ideation at the time of the study. The death wish and suicidal ideation were associated with higher depression scores (P < 0.0001) and higher patient self-ratings of psoriasis severity (P < 0.05). Patient self-reports of psoriasis severity correlated directly with the overall depression scores (r = 0.39), P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The comorbidity between depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and psoriasis severity is in contrast with reports that severe depression and suicidal ideation are mainly a feature of life-threatening medical disorders such as malignancies. Our finding may have important implications in the management of psoriasis.
BACKGROUND:Psoriasis has been associated with depressive disease and case reports of completed suicide. METHODS: 217 consenting psoriasispatients completed the Carroll Rating Scale for Depression (CRSD), a 52-item self-rated scale, with four of the items directly addressing wishes to be dead and suicidal ideation. The patients also self-rated the severity of their psoriasis. RESULTS: 9.7% of patients reported a wish to be dead, and 5.5% reported active suicidal ideation at the time of the study. The death wish and suicidal ideation were associated with higher depression scores (P < 0.0001) and higher patient self-ratings of psoriasis severity (P < 0.05). Patient self-reports of psoriasis severity correlated directly with the overall depression scores (r = 0.39), P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The comorbidity between depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and psoriasis severity is in contrast with reports that severe depression and suicidal ideation are mainly a feature of life-threatening medical disorders such as malignancies. Our finding may have important implications in the management of psoriasis.
Authors: Johann E Gudjonsson; Jun Ding; Xing Li; Rajan P Nair; Trilokraj Tejasvi; Zhaohui S Qin; Debashis Ghosh; Abhishek Aphale; Deborah L Gumucio; John J Voorhees; Goncalo R Abecasis; James T Elder Journal: J Invest Dermatol Date: 2009-07-02 Impact factor: 8.551
Authors: Rajan P Nair; Philip E Stuart; Ioana Nistor; Ravi Hiremagalore; Nicholas V C Chia; Stefan Jenisch; Michael Weichenthal; Gonçalo R Abecasis; Henry W Lim; Enno Christophers; John J Voorhees; James T Elder Journal: Am J Hum Genet Date: 2006-03-31 Impact factor: 11.025