Toward a biopsychosocial approach to skin diseases

A link between the mind and the skin has long been hypothesized. Indeed, some studies suggested that psychosocial factors may play a role in the pathogenesis and course of several skin diseases. Conversely, other studies suggested that psychiatric disorders and psychosocial difficulties may result as a complication of a primary skin disease. Epidemiological studies indeed found a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among dermatological patients. This is a source of concern, because psychiatric morbidity is associated with emotional suffering, disability, lower quality of life, poorer adherence to dermatological treatment, and increased risk of self-harm. Conditions such as demoralization, health anxiety, irritable mood, type A behavior, and alexithymia were also found to be frequent in dermatological patients, and to be independently associated with greater psychological distress, lower quality of life, and poorer psychosocial functioning. Several studies also raised concerns about under-recognition and undertreatment of psychiatric disorders. This large body of findings suggests that psychosocial issues deserve more attention in everyday dermatological practice, and highlights the need for a biopsychosocial approach to the management of patients with skin disease. To this purpose, the development of efficient consultation-liaison services enabling an effective collaboration between dermatologists and mental health professionals is mandatory.