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The Classification of Psychiatric Morbidity in Attenders at a Dermatology Clinic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

S. C. Wessely  and
G. H. Lewis
S. C. Wessely*
Affiliation:
Maudsley Hospital, now Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry
G. H. Lewis
Affiliation:
General Practice Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, and Honorary Senior Registrar, Bethlem & Maudsley Hospitals, London
*
∗Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
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Abstract

Of a random sample of new attenders at a dermatology out-patient clinic, 40% were classified as suffering from a psychiatric disorder. There was no correlation between psychiatric morbidity and the severity or site of skin disease. Self-report measures of the behavioural impact of skin disease and attitudes to appearance were related to psychological morbidity. Except in subjects without visible skin pathology (5%) there was no evidence that psychiatric illness was an aetiological factor in the development of skin disease. Self-report measures were used to distinguish between those patients in whom psychiatric morbidity was closely related to skin disease (75%), and those in whom it may be coincidental (20%). Psychological care for the former group is most appropriately provided by physicians, who should be encouraged to improve their detection and management of psychiatric morbidity.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 155 , Issue 5 , November 1989 , pp. 686 - 691
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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