Skin picking disorder and hazardous alcohol use

Skin picking disorder is characterized by repetitive excoriation of one's skin. Although skin picking disorder is associated with substance use problems, no previous research has examined the associations of alcohol use on skin picking symptomatology.

Adults with skin picking disorder (n = 182) were recruited from the general community via an online survey. Participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to measure alcohol use and various self-report measures to assess clinical profiles and associated characteristics. We compared variables of interest between those with hazardous alcohol use in the past year (AUDIT ≥8) compared to those with low-risk or no alcohol use in the past year. We also examined the extent to which skin picking disorder symptoms were dimensionally related to AUDIT scores while controlling for confounders.

Of the 182 adults with skin picking disorder, 62 (34.1%) met criteria for hazardous alcohol use. Hazardous drinking was associated with less frequent skin picking but higher overall picking-related severity and impairment, aggression, and rates of comorbid borderline personality disorder, gambling disorder, and compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Skin picking-related impairment predicted the degree of hazardous drinking while controlling for sex.

This study highlights the importance of screening for hazardous alcohol use in people with skin picking disorder. More research is needed to explore the relationship between aggression, hazardous alcohol use, and skin picking, as well as how treatments might best be adapted to treat individuals with this cluster of symptoms.