Psychological Impact Of Chronic Dermatological Condition: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Chronic dermatological conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, acne, and atopic dermatitis are known to have significant psychological implications due to their visible and persistent nature. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress among patients with chronic skin diseases in a tertiary care setting in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology and Psychiatry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from January to December 2022. A total of 350 patients with clinically diagnosed chronic dermatological conditions were enrolled using purposive sampling. Psychological distress was assessed using the validated Bangla version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Associations between skin conditions and psychological outcomes were analyzed using the Chi-square test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The majority of participants were aged 26–35 years (34.0%), with 54.0% being female. Psoriasis was the most common condition (28.9%), followed by acne (26.3%), vitiligo (22.9%), and atopic dermatitis (22.0%). Moderate to extremely severe depression and anxiety were observed in 45.4% and 45.7% of participants, respectively, while 30.8% reported similar levels of stress. Atopic dermatitis patients had the highest mean DASS-21 scores across all domains. Significant associations were found between atopic dermatitis and severe depression and anxiety (p = 0.01), and between psoriasis and psychological distress (p = 0.03). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of patients with chronic dermatological conditions experience psychological distress. Routine mental health screening should be integrated into dermatological care to ensure holistic patient management.