Psychological Interventions for the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Dermatoses: A Systematic Literature Review

Objectives: Chronic dermatoses are extremely prevalent and can manifest in various forms across genders and ages. Faced with the symptoms experienced by these conditions and the patient's perception of the disease and its manifestation, it often leads to isolation and difficulty in emotional regulation. All these symptoms are associated with low quality of life, resulting in depressive and anxious symptomatology. Methods: This systematic literature review aims to study psychosocial interventions with an impact on the treatment of patients with chronic dermatoses. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, guiding a systematic search across PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycNet databases. The considered studies reported the impact of interventions when applied to patients with chronic dermatoses. All the studies found were published in peer-reviewed journals. Results: The analysis revealed that interventions based on mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-help showed promise, with several studies reporting reductions in disease-related suffering and improvements in quality of life. However, the results were heterogeneous, with some interventions showing no significant benefit over control conditions for specific outcomes like anxiety or appearance-related distress. Conclusions: The development of research lines to enhance knowledge in this field will allow for significant improvements in therapeutic care for patients with chronic dermatoses, aiming to support professionals in the development of integrative therapeutic strategies for these patients in their clinical practice.