IMPACT OF ANXIETY DISORDERS ON CHRONIC DERMATOLOGICAL DISEASES: BIDIRECTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANXIETY AND SEVERITY OF SKIN SYMPTOMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv16n55-015Keywords:
Skin Diseases, Dermatoses, Depression, Quality of Life, Anxiety, Psychosomatic RelationsAbstract
Introduction: The relationship between anxiety disorders and chronic dermatological diseases is widely recognized, involving neuroendocrine, immunological, and psychosocial mechanisms that mutually influence each other. Anxiety can intensify symptoms such as pruritus, inflammation, and pain, while the visibility and recurrence of skin lesions contribute to emotional distress, stigma, and reduced quality of life. Understanding this interaction is essential to improving integrated therapeutic approaches. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines using the PubMed/MEDLINE database. The search strategy combined descriptors related to anxiety and chronic dermatoses, with filters for full-text availability, publication within the last five years, and studies involving human subjects. Studies addressing both emotional and clinical outcomes in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, vitiligo, or chronic acne were included, with no age restrictions. Results: The included studies—comprising clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, prospective studies, and case reports—consistently demonstrated a bidirectional relationship between anxiety and dermatological severity. Anxiety was associated with increased pruritus, worsened inflammation, and clinical exacerbations, particularly in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Conversely, stigma, pain, and the social impact of these skin conditions contributed to higher rates of anxiety. Psychological, educational, and digital interventions significantly reduced emotional symptoms and produced parallel improvements in dermatological outcomes. Effective pharmacological therapies also yielded emotional benefits secondary to the control of inflammation. Conclusion: Integrating dermatological management with psychological interventions is essential to improving clinical control, reducing relapses, and promoting quality of life. Recognizing the mind–skin interaction enables more comprehensive, effective, and humanized therapeutic strategies, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary care in chronic dermatological diseases.
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