Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by painful recurrent inflammatory nodules, leading to the formation of abscesses and scarring. In this article, we aim to review the psychiatric comorbidities in HS patients. It is estimated that one in four adults with HS suffers from depression and one out of five patients HS patients has anxiety. Bipolar disorders, psychoses, schizophrenia, and suicide are more common in HS patients than healthy individuals. Given the high rates of psychiatric comorbidities in HS patients, a psychosocial evaluation at an early visit could be a great tool for monitoring patients experiencing emotional burden. Referrals to psychiatric specialists, psychologists, and behavioral counselors are a part of a multidisciplinary approach recommended for the management of HS.