The Coping Clinic: An Interdisciplinary Pediatric Psychodermatology Clinic

Psychodermatology addresses the interaction between cutaneous disease and psychological conditions. The Coping Clinic at Boston Medical Center (BMC) provides interdisciplinary psychodermatology care where pediatric patients see a dermatologist and a psychologist in the same visit. This study's purpose was to preliminarily assess the scope and impact of collaborative care between pediatric dermatology and psychology.

A retrospective chart review of 50 patients (94 charts) examined the reasons for referral, dermatologic and psychiatric diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and interventions made in the Coping Clinic from 2018-2023.

Of the 50 patients seen, 62% (31/50) were female and 38% (19/50) were male, with a mean age of 13.2 years. The most common dermatologic diagnoses were atopic dermatitis (32%; 16/50) and acne vulgaris (30%; 15/50). Excluding those diagnosed with adjustment disorder, 72% (36/50) of patients received new psychological diagnoses at Coping Clinic, the most common being anxiety (34%; 17/50) and depression (12%; 6/50). Sixty-four percent (32/50) of patients were referred to therapy after being seen in Coping Clinic, and 28.1% (9/32) met with a mental health provider at least once. As documented in the psychologist's notes, 80% (12/15) of patients had signs of improved mood at their follow-up visits.

All Coping Clinic patients received new psychological assessments and plans or a referral to Behavioral Health along with continuity in dermatology care. While we cannot prove from this chart review that improvement in mood was specifically related to attending Coping Clinic, these results demonstrate the feasibility of interdisciplinary pediatric psychodermatology care in an urban safety-net hospital.