Psychodermatology in clinical practice: An examination of physician attitudes, beliefs, and interventions toward...

Fifteen days postconception, the embryonic ectoderm simultaneously gives rise to the central nervous system and the epidermis of the integumentary system. The connections between the two organ systems manifests in both the psychiatric and dermatologic setting. To examine the current awareness of psychiatric comorbidity in dermatologic practice and its management in a sample of dermatologists across the United States. A survey was conducted that explored physician perspective on psychiatric comorbidity, clinical practice, and management, that is, use of survey screening measures, employment of psychological interventions, and coordination with mental health services. SPSS v25 was used for descriptive statistical analysis and to calculate Pearson's correlation coefficients between familiarity with dermatologic/psychiatric comorbidity and its management. Ninety-eight percentage of respondents believed a relationship between mental and dermatological health. 61.7% of respondents reported seeing patients with known psychological problems more than once a week. The administration of a psychiatric questionnaires was noted in 23% of practices and only 6.38% administer the questionnaire at every appointment. Management of comorbid disease is best done through the collaboration of dermatology and psychiatry. Implications for streamlining practice include the routine administration of quality of life surveys, utilization of brief psychotherapeutic strategies, and regular interdisciplinary referrals.