There is a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in dermatological patients.

To evaluate the prevalence of this problem and to find a set of variables associated with the presence of psychiatric disorder.

414 adults attending the outpatient clinics of a dermatological hospital or in inpatient ward were given a questionnaire comprising the DLQI and the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28).

In total, 414 questionnaires were given at admission. Of these Using a stringent cut-off threshold (5<) for psychiatric case identification with the GHQ-28, the overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 51.3% . We found a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders in married and low educated patients. Higher score of GHQ-28 accompanied with higher score of DLQI. High prevalence rates were observed among patients with vitiligo, psoriasis, pemphigus. There was not significant difference in psychiatric co-morbidity between men and women.

Our study has shown the situation that is actually faced by dermatologists in their everyday practice, where they are in an especial situation to detect psychiatric morbidity and to take appropriate measures. The GHQ-28, being easy for patients to compile and for physicians or nurses to score, may be a practical instrument to increase identification of patients with prominent psychological distress or formal psychiatric disorder in order to provide more appropriate intervention.