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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*
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

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
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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