The Major Psychocutaneous Disorders in Iraqi Patients

Khalifa E. Sharquie^1,2*, Adil A. Noaimi^1,2, Maha S. Younis³, Bashar S. Al-Sultani⁴

¹Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
²Iraqi and Arab Board for Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq.
³Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
⁴Department of Dermatology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq.

DOI: 10.4236/jcdsa.2015.52007                

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.

Keywords

Trichotillomania, Dermatitis Artifacta, Delusion of Parasitosis, Neurotic Excoriation, Psychocutaneous Disorders, Iraqi Patients

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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