Saana Kauppi, Jari Jokelainen, Markku Timonen, Kaisa Tasanen, Laura Huilaja
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3165

Atopic dermatitis is associated with several comorbidities. Epidemiological studies on psychiatric comorbidities in adult atopic dermatitis patients are sparse. We analyzed psychiatric comorbidities in a Finnish nationwide adult atopic dermatitis cohort. The study included 57,690 adult patients with atopic dermatitis as cases and 40,363 individuals diagnosed with melanocytic naevi as controls. Data was obtained from the statutory Finnish Care Register for Health Care. The prevalence of preselected comorbidities between the atopic dermatitis and control groups was compared. Every psychiatric disorder studied was more common in patients with atopic dermatitis than in controls. At least one psychiatric diagnosis was found in 17.2% of the atopic dermatitis patients and 13.1% of controls. Psychiatric morbidity is significant in patients with atopic dermatitis and therefore assessing patients’ mental health status should be considered as part of standard care.

Atopic dermatitis is associated with several comorbidities. In this study we investigated psychiatric comorbidities of adult patients with atopic dermatitis. Our study shows that at least one psychiatric diagnosis was found in 17.2% of the atopic dermatitis patients. Actually, every mental diagnosis studied was more common in patients with atopic dermatitis compared to the melanocytic naevi controls. We report, for the first time, that atopic dermatitis is associated with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Since psychiatric morbidity is significant in patients with atopic dermatitis, assessing patients’ mental health status should be considered as part of standard care.