TITLE:
The Major Psychocutaneous Disorders in Iraqi Patients
AUTHORS:
Khalifa E. Sharquie, Adil A. Noaimi, Maha S. Younis, Bashar S. Al-Sultani
KEYWORDS:
Trichotillomania, Dermatitis Artifacta, Delusion of Parasitosis, Neurotic Excoriation, Psychocutaneous Disorders, Iraqi Patients
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications,
Vol.5 No.2,
March
20,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: Many
skin diseases can be evoked by psychological problems. Dermatological conditions
could also lead to psychological disorders; hence psychodermatology is an
emerging subspecialty that focuses on the interface of psychiatry and
dermatology. Objective: To
assess the frequency of the major disorders of so-called psychocutaneous
disorders which are commonly seen among Iraqi population. Patients and Methods: This case
descriptive study had been done in Department of Dermatology-Baghdad Teaching
Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq during the period from March 2011 to
October 2013. All cases were collected and categorized according to the disease
problem. Patients were interviewed to search for the main triggering and
precipitating factors involved in pathogenesis of these disorders. The clinical
picture was well described in order to reach a final diagnosis. Psychological
interview and analysis were performed for all patients to reach the specific
emotional and psychiatric disease by consultant psychiatrist. Results: A total of 100 patients with
major psychocutaneous disorders were seen and evaluated. Nineteen were males
and 81 were females with female to male ratio: 4.26:1. Their ages ranged from 7
- 73 (26.5 ± 5.217) years. The frequency of these diseases was as follows:
trichotillomania 53%, dermatitis artifacta 37%, delusion of parasitosis 6% and
neurotic excoriation 4%. Conclusions: The major psychocutaneous diseases in Iraqi population were:
trichotillomania, dermatitis artifacta and these are problems of mainly young
females while delusion of parasitosis and neurotic excoriations were diseases
of middle age females.