Author/Authors :
Nejatisafa، Ali-Akbar نويسنده Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Mohammadi، Mohammad Reza نويسنده Department of Physics, Sistan and Baluchestan University, Zahedan 98135–674, I.R. Iran , , Balighi، Kamran نويسنده , , Farnia، Vahid نويسنده Behavioral sciences Research Center, Psychiatry Department, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Farnia, Vahid , Arbabi، Mohammad نويسنده Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Yazdchi، Katayoon نويسنده Psychiatry and psychology Research Center, Tehran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran Yazdchi, Katayoon
Abstract :
Objective: This study aimed to detail the phenomenology and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with pathologic skin picking (PSP).
Method: Forty five subjects (30% males) with PSP (mean S.D. =33.210.9) were assessed. Subjects were assessed for psychiatric co morbidity using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was used to assess obsessive compulsive symptoms; the Dermatology quality of life index(DLQI) was utilized to evaluate the quality of life in patients; and clinical severity using Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was employed for evaluating skin picking behavior.
Results: The mean time after (S.D.) the onset of PSP was 6.62.4years.Twenty eight (62.2%) individuals had a bimodal GHQ score higher than five which implied probable mental disorder, and twenty two (48.9%) of the individuals with PSP had significant obsessive compulsive disorder. The severity of impairment of quality of life status was increased with increment of mental disorder severity.
Conclusion: PSP appears to be time consuming and frequently associated with psychiatric co morbidities. Considerations should be made on the relationship between psychiatric co morbidity and quality of life in PSP diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
