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Zeidler C, Kupfer J, Dalgard FJ, Bewley A, Evers AWM, Gieler U, Lien L, Sampogna F, Tomas Aragones L, Vulink N, Finlay AY, Legat FJ, Titeca G, Jemec GB, Misery L, Szabó C, Grivcheva Panovska V, Spillekom van Koulil S, Balieva F, Szepietowski JC, Reich A, Ferreira BR, Lvov A, Romanov D, Marron SE, Gracia Cazaña T, Elyas A, Altunay IK, Thompson AR, van Beugen S, Ständer S, Schut C. Dermatological patients with itch report more stress, stigmatization experience, anxiety and depression compared to patients without itch: Results from a European multi-centre study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2024. [PMID: 38468596 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Itch as the most common symptom in dermatology has been shown to be related to psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression. Moreover, associations were found between perceived stigmatization and itch. However, studies investigating the differences between patients with dermatoses with and without itch regarding perceived stress, stigmatization, anxiety and depression are missing. Therefore, one of the aims of the second study of the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry (ESDaP study II) was to investigate these relationships in a large cohort of patients with different itchy dermatoses. RESULTS 3399 patients with 14 different itchy dermatoses were recruited at 22 centres in 17 European countries. They filled in questionnaires to assess perceived stigmatization, stress, signs of clinically relevant anxiety or depression, itch-related quality of life, the overall health status, itch duration, frequency and intensity. The most significant association between the severity of itching and the perception of stress was observed among individuals with rosacea (correlation coefficient r = 0.314). Similarly, the strongest links between itch intensity and experiences of stigmatization, anxiety, and depression were found in patients with seborrheic dermatitis (correlation coefficients r = 0.317, r = 0.356, and r = 0.400, respectively). Utilizing a stepwise linear regression analysis, it was determined that within the entire patient cohort, 9.3% of the variation in itch intensity could be accounted for by factors including gender, levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stigmatization. Females and individuals with elevated anxiety, depression, and perceived stigmatization scores reported more pronounced itch intensities compared to those with contrary attributes. CONCLUSION This study underscores the connection between experiencing itch and its intensity and the psychological strain it places on individuals. Consequently, psychological interventions should encompass both addressing the itch itself and the interconnected psychological factors. In specific cases, it becomes imperative for dermatologists to direct individuals towards suitable healthcare resources to undergo further psychological assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Zeidler
- Department of Dermatology and Center for Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - J Kupfer
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen, Germany
| | - F J Dalgard
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden
| | - A Bewley
- Barts Health NHS Trust & Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - A W M Evers
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Unit Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - L Lien
- Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - F Sampogna
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - L Tomas Aragones
- Department of Psychology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Psychodermatology Research Group Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - N Vulink
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Y Finlay
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - F J Legat
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - G Titeca
- Clinique Notre Dame de Grâce, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - G B Jemec
- Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L Misery
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Brest, Brest, France
| | - C Szabó
- Institute of Psychology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - V Grivcheva Panovska
- School of Medicine, PHI University Clinic of Dermatology, University St Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - S Spillekom van Koulil
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - F Balieva
- Department of Dermatology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - J C Szepietowski
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - A Reich
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - B R Ferreira
- Centre for Philosophy of Science of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Dermatology, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Portugal
- University of Brest, Lien, France
| | - A Lvov
- Central State Medical Academy of Department of Presidential Affairs, Moscow, Russia
- Medical Research and Educational Centre, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - D Romanov
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
- Department of Boundary Mental Conditions and Psychosomatic Disorders, Mental Health Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
- International Institute of Psychosomatic Health, Moscow, Russia
| | - S E Marron
- Aragon Psychodermatology Research Group Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - T Gracia Cazaña
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - A Elyas
- Department of Dermatology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - I K Altunay
- Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Dermatology and Venereology Clinic, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - A R Thompson
- South Wales Clinical Psychology Training Programme, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board & School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - S van Beugen
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Unit Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - S Ständer
- Department of Dermatology and Center for Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - C Schut
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen, Germany
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