Psychodermatologic pathology in adolescents: findings from the Colombian National Mental Health Survey

Background: Associations between mental health and dermatology have generated a new branch of study called psychodermatology, which includes relevant conditions to the adolescent population. However, there is limited research focusing on this field and this specific population.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of dermatological pathologies in the Colombian adolescent population and their possible associations with mental health conditions.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of the Colombian National Mental Health Survey results. A representative sample of the adolescent Colombian population answered questions regarding dermatological conditions and mental health disorders. We estimated the prevalence and evaluated associations using the chi squared independence test.

Results: Of 1753 adolescents, 8.3% (CI95%=[6.8-10.1]) had dermatitis or skin allergies and 4.5% (CI95%=[3.3-6.1]) acne. For dermatitis, we found associations with age, education, and family dysfunction (p-Values=0.024; <0.001; 0.046 respectively). Acne was associated with age, sex, educational level, the number of social groups involved in, alcohol consumption, psychoactive substances use and previous violent experiences (respective p-Values=0.007; 0.004; 0.005; 0.036; 0.002; 0.003; 0.044). Regarding mental health, dermatological conditions were associated with depression, affective disorders, suicide attempt and suicide ideation.

Conclusion: Our results are the first to describe the prevalence of these disorders in Colombia. This is an exploratory study; nonetheless, it is of great value since it is the first to describe these associations in adolescents in a middle-income country, which should be considered during clinical examinations. Further longitudinal studies evaluating possible causal relationship between psychiatric and dermatological conditions are fundamental to establish causal links.