Psychiatric Comorbidities in Non-psychogenic Chronic Itch, a US-based Study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic itch is a distressing symptom with a significant impact on quality of life.
• Emerging research indicates a strong connection between persistent pruritus and psychiatric disorders.
• Understanding the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in chronic itch patients is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses in adult patients with chronic itch.
• To identify common psychiatric comorbidities associated with non-psychogenic chronic itch.
• To explore potential associations between itch characteristics and psychiatric conditions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 502 adult patients with chronic itch from a specialized outpatient dermatology clinic.
• Psychiatric diagnoses were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes documented in electronic medical records.
• Data included all medical department visits at the University of Miami.

Main Results:

• A comorbid psychiatric diagnosis was identified in 55 out of 502 patients (10.9%).
• Anxiety disorders were the most frequent psychiatric diagnosis (45.5%), followed by major depressive disorder (36.4%).
• No significant association was found between specific itch types and particular psychiatric disorders, nor unique itch characteristics in patients with psychiatric diagnoses.

Conclusions:

• A notable percentage of patients with chronic itch have comorbid psychiatric conditions, primarily anxiety and depression.
• The findings underscore the importance of screening for and addressing psychiatric comorbidities in the management of chronic itch.
• Further research may elucidate the complex bidirectional relationship between chronic itch and mental health.