The anxiety and depression disorder in adults with atopic dermatitis: experience of a dermatology hospital

Objectives: To identify the proportion of atopic dermatitis adult patients having anxiety and depression disorder and measure the relationship between anxiety and depression disorder and characteristics of atopic dermatitis. Materials and Methods: a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted. Diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis were based on modified Hanifin and Raijka criteria and the severity of anxiety - depression disorder was evaluated using HADS (Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale). Results: 208 patients were enrolled in this study. The percentage of patients with anxiety and subthreshold anxiety were 11.1% and 34.1%, respectively. 5.3% of patients had depression and 39.4% of patients suffered from subthreshold depression. The proportion of patients with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder was 1.44%. Patients with severe atopic dermatitis were more likely to endure anxiety but not depression. Allergies or autoimmune diseases and SCORAD C were two independent risk factors of depression whereas edema and excoriation were two independent risk factors related to anxiety in atopic dermatitis patients. Conclusion: These findings suggest that atopic dermatitis is associated with anxiety and depression. Allergies, autoimmune diseases, pruritus, and insomnia had a correlation with anxiety and depression disorder.