The causal relationship between negative emotions and inflammatory dermatoses: a bidirectional Mendelian...

Area of Science:

• Psychodermatology
• Genetic Epidemiology
• Mendelian Randomization

Background:

• Observational studies suggest links between emotions and inflammatory skin conditions.
• Causal relationships between specific negative emotions and inflammatory dermatoses remain under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between negative emotions and inflammatory dermatoses using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Main Methods:

• Utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data for seven negative emotions.
• Included GWAS data for seven inflammatory dermatoses: vitiligo, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, eczema, atopic dermatitis, acne, and rosacea.
• Employed Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by MR-Egger and other MR techniques.

Main Results:

• Guilty feelings showed a potential to increase psoriasis risk (OR=1.02, P=0.019).
• Anxious feelings were associated with increased eczema risk (OR=1.07, P=0.042).
• Psoriasis potentially increased miserableness, anxious feelings, nervous feelings, and loneliness.
• Eczema potentially increased anxious feelings.

Conclusions:

• Confirmed bidirectional causality between anxious feelings and eczema.
• Identified guilty feelings as a potential risk factor for psoriasis.
• Demonstrated that psoriasis may lead to increased psychological distress, including miserableness, anxiety, nervousness, and loneliness.