Prevalence and pattern of psychiatric disorders among dermatological patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66344/jpad.v15i1.611Keywords:
Prevalence, pattern, psychiatry, dermatology.Abstract
Background Psychiatric disorders are common among patients with a skin disease.
Objective The purpose of this study was to find out the intensity of psychiatric morbidity and
to see the pattern of psychiatric ailments in dermatological patients.
Patients and methods Three hundred and twelve randomly-selected patients of 15-60 years
from the out-patient, dermatology department of Bahawal-Victoria Hospital/Quaid-e-Azam
Medical College, Bahawalpur, were included in the study. The study was done in two stages.
In the 1st stage, General Health Questionnairre-12 (GHQ-12) Urdu version was used for
screening purpose. In the 2nd stage, Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (PAS) Urdu version
was administered to those who were found to be positive for psychiatric caseness in stage 1.
Results According to GHQ-12 screening, 122 out of 312 patients (39.1%) were positive for
psychiatric caseness; the prevalence was slightly higher in females (58/142; 40.8%) as
compared to males ( 64/170; 37.6%). The pattern of psychiatric ailments detected by PAS
was as follows: major depressive illness in 17.3% (54/312) patients, generalized anxiety
disorder in 7.6% (24), mixed anxiety and depression state in 11.2% (35) and dysthymia in
1.7% (6) of the 312 patients. None of the patients was found to be suffering from panic
disorder.
Conclusion In conclusion, psychiatric co-morbidity is very common (39.1%) among
dermatological patients as compared to the general population or clinics of primary care
physicians. If a therapist is well aware of detection and management of these co-morbid
conditions, better quality of care can be further assured
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Copyright (c) 2016 Altaf Hussain, Muhammad Khalid, Jameel Ahmad Shaheen, Ishtiaq Ahmad
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