Volume 34, Issue 4 e15018
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Psychiatric morbidity, stress and quality of life among geriatric dermatology patients: Therapeutic considerations from an Indian perspective

Archana Anandakumar Geetha

Archana Anandakumar Geetha

Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, India

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Ettappurath N. Abdul Latheef

Ettappurath N. Abdul Latheef

Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, India

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Sreekanth Sukumarakurup

Sreekanth Sukumarakurup

Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, India

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Keerankulangara Devi

Keerankulangara Devi

Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, India

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Mohammad Jafferany

Corresponding Author

Mohammad Jafferany

Department of Psychiatry, Central Michigan University, Saginaw, Michigan, USA

Correspondence

Mohammad Jafferany, Department of Psychiatry, Central Michigan University, Saginaw, MI, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 02 June 2021
Citations: 5

Abstract

We aimed to determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidities, stress and quality of life, the pattern of skin diseases and associated psychosocial factors in geriatric population. Patients aged 60 years and older were recruited. Demographics and dermatological history and findings were collected using a preset Proforma. Geriatric depression scale (GDS), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), perceived stress scale (PSS), and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were instituted in all the patients. A total of 310 patients were included in the study, 173 males and 137 females. Infectious diseases (39.6%), papulosquamous diseases (17.1%), and eczema (15.5%) were common disorders. 45.5% were depressed and 43.2% had anxiety (hospital anxiety and depression scale). 55.8% had depression (geriatric depression rating scale), 20.3% had high stress and 11% had extremely large effect on DLQI. Divorced/widowed patients experienced more depression (p = 0.037) and had more impairment in quality of life (p = 0.05). Patients living in three generation family experienced more impairment in quality of life (p = 0.000). Our study demonstrated high prevalence of psychiatric morbidities in geriatric dermatology patients. It implies the need of special care with more attention to psychiatric co morbidities. The role of psychiatry-dermatology liaison clinic may benefit these patients.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available with Authors and can be requested. Data driven from public sources and is available upon request.

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