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Updated: May 25, 2026
02:28
Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
Published on: March 1, 2024
Risks of developing psychiatric disorders in pediatric patients with psoriasis
Alexa B Kimball1, Eric Q Wu, Annie Guérin
1Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. harvardskinstudies@partners.org
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|January 17, 2012
Summary
Pediatric psoriasis patients face a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. This study highlights the significant mental health burden associated with childhood psoriasis.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Psoriasis symptoms can cause distress and increase the risk of psychiatric disorders in young individuals.
- Understanding the link between pediatric psoriasis and mental health is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the incidence of psychiatric disorders in pediatric patients with psoriasis versus those without the condition.
- To identify specific psychiatric disorders more prevalent in children with psoriasis.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study using the Thomson Reuters MarketScan database (2000-2006).
- Matched 7,404 pediatric psoriasis patients with 37,020 psoriasis-free controls.
- Utilized Cox proportional hazard models to assess the risk of psychiatric disorders.
Main Results:
- Pediatric patients with psoriasis showed a significantly higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders (5.13% vs 4.07%).
- Increased risk was particularly noted for depression (3.01% vs 2.42%) and anxiety (1.81% vs 1.35%).
- Hazard ratios indicated a 25% increased risk for psychiatric disorders and depression, and a 32% increase for anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric patients diagnosed with psoriasis have an elevated risk of developing psychiatric disorders.
- Depression and anxiety are key psychiatric comorbidities in children with psoriasis.
- Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and effective management strategies.
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