Psychocutaneous disorders are often attributed to stimulant medications, yet this relationship has never been fully elucidated. Literature on psychocutaneous disorders largely focuses on clinical presentation and treatment rather than disease etiology or exacerbation.
To determine if patients presenting with psychocutaneous disorders display high rates of stimulant use and psychiatric comorbidity METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients with psychocutaneous disorders presenting to a single center. It was hypothesized that these patients would have high rates of stimulant use and psychiatric comorbidity. Following analysis of baseline demographics, the patients were split up into two groups: those with a “psychotic” disorder and those with a “neurotic” disorder.
60% of the predominantly female patients (n=317) with psychocutaneous disease had recent use of a stimulant, and >80% (270/317) carried an additional psychiatric diagnosis. The neurotic disorder group (n=237 patients) was younger, with higher rates of stimulant use, while the psychotic disorder group (n=80) had higher rates of psychosis, medical comorbidity and illicit stimulant drug use.
The predominantly Caucasian population may limit generalizability of findings, as may the retrospective nature.
Patients with psychocutaneous disease have high rates of stimulant use, and most have at least one psychiatric comorbidity.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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