Psychiatric Comorbidity, Self-Injury Common Among Adolescents With Acne

On the basis of the presence of high levels of psychiatric comorbidities, suicide probability, and self-injurious behavior among adolescents with acne, psychiatric evaluation of these individuals should be included as part of acne treatment plans, according to the results of a clinical pilot study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

The investigators sought to evaluate and compare psychiatric comorbidities, along with levels of self-injurious behaviors, suicide probability, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and loneliness among adolescents with acne vulgaris vs a control group. A total of 104 adolescents with acne and 102 age- and sex-matched healthy control patients were enrolled in the study. 

All cases and control groups were assessed via administration of the following tools: Acne Quality of Life Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Suicide Probability Scale, Self-Injurious Behavior Evaluation Inventory, Life Satisfaction Inventory, Short Form of the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, and Turkish Version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version.

Study findings demonstrated that adolescents with acne had significantly lower levels of self-esteem (P <.001) and life satisfaction (P =.001), as well as higher levels of loneliness (P =.004), compared with control patients. The mean scores on Suicide Probability Scale (P =.038) and its negative self-assessment/hostility subscales (P =.012 and P =.045, respectively) were reported to be significantly higher among adolescents with acne vs control patients. Further, the presence of self-injurious behaviors (P =.001) and psychiatric comorbidities (ranging from P =.006 to P =.029) was also significantly higher among adolescents with acne.

According to the results of this study, the investigators recommend that psychiatric evaluation be part of a routine acne treatment plan among adolescents, noting that the study findings emphasize the critical nature of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of acne among adolescents.

Reference

Özyay Eroğlu F, Aktepe E, Erturan İ. The evaluation of psychiatric comorbidity, self-injurious behavior, suicide probability, and other associated psychiatric factors (lonileness, self-esteem, life satisfaction) in adolescents with acne: a clinical pilot study [published online July 11, 2018]. J Cosmet Dermatol. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12708