1RMO Cum Clinical Tuor, Department of Psychiatry, Calcutta National Medical College, West Bengal, India
2RMO Cum Clinical Tutor, Department of Psychiatry, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan, West Bengal, India
3RMO Cum Clinical Tutor, Department of Ophthalmology, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
4Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology IQCT Medical College, Durgapur, West Bengal, India
5Professor and HOD, Department of Psychiatry, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
*Corresponding author: Dr. Supartha Barua, RMO Cum Clinical Tutor, Department of Psychiatry, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan, West Bengal, India, Email ID: supartha.barua@gmail.com, Mobile no. 9830624039, Address: 21, Rabindranath Tagore Road. P.O: Bediapara. Dumdum. Kolkata-700077
Online published on 16 January, 2016.
Chronic itch patients often have co-morbid psychopathologies which have significant contribution to patient sufferings.
To assess prevalence of different psychiatric disorders as per DSM-IV, in patients with chronic itch. To compare the psychopathological profile among different subgroups of patients presenting with chronic itch.
Total 100 patients with chronic itch were divided into 4 groups. Group-1: With primary Dermatological lesion, having a DSM-IV diagnosis, Group-2 With primary Dermatological lesion, not having a DSM-IV diagnosis, Group-3: Without primary Dermatological lesion, having a DSM-IV diagnosis, Group-4: Without primary Dermatological lesion, not having a DSM-IV diagnosis. They were assessed for different psychopathology.
32% of all chronic itch patients fails GHQ cut-off who on applying MINI-2005, detected to be suffering from major depressive disorder, dysthymia current, generalized anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder. Among GHQ failed patients, itch duration is negatively correlated with years of education and positively correlated with GHQ anxiety, GHQ depression, GHQ social dysfunction. Among GHQ failed patients, all the domains of GHQ-28 (somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and depression) are positively correlated with one another and also with HAM-A and HDRS scales.
These psychopathologies eg mainly anxiety and depression affect the course and outcome of dermatological symptoms but are often overlooked. Overall prognosis will be improved if these psychopathologies are evaluated and managed properly.
Chronic itch, Psychopathology, Dermatology
