Psoriasis might lead to depression

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Psoriasis is likely to take a toll on the mental condition of individuals. According to a study in the recent past, people with the common skin condition psoriasis may be at increased risk of depression.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales which can be itchy for the diseased.

The researchers believe that the connection between psoriasis and depression may be linked owing to public stigmatization attached to it.

The precariousness of the disease gets visible on the skin in the summer months owing to persistent exposure. The ones who are unfamiliar with the disease may end up reacting unfavorably to people who have it.

"The public should know that psoriasis is not contagious, so there is no need to act differently around psoriasis patients than you would around anyone else," said Roger Ho, assistant professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine.

The researchers did a case study that comprised of 12,382 adult patients having problems of depression and psoriasis.

About 16.5 percent of the psoriasis patients met the criteria for major depression, and the odds of having major depression were doubled among psoriasis patients.

While the researchers initially expected that patients' likelihood of depression would be linked to the severity of their psoriasis, but the research indicated that this was not the case.

"It seems that it really depends on the patient's' view of themselves, rather than the extent of their psoriasis," He noted.

The findings were presented at the American Academy of Dermatology's ongoing summer academy meeting in New York, US.