Correlates and Pattern of Psychiatric Morbidity among Patients attending the Dermatological Clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in South-South Region of Nigeria

Introduction: Higher rates of psychiatric disorders have been reported among patients with dermatological lesions. These problems could negatively impact the quality of life of these patients.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the psychiatric morbidity among patients attending the dermatology clinic of University Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). It also sought to assess the relationship between socio-demographic factors and presence of psychiatric morbidity.

Methodology: The study employed a cross-sectional design, involving ninety patients consecutively recruited from the dermatology clinic of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Consenting patients filled the study questionnaire which was inclusive of a socio-demographic questionnaire and general health questionnaire (GHQ-12). A GHQ score of ≥3 was considered as having psychiatric morbidity. Statistical analysis was performed at a statistical significance level of 0.05.

Results: The mean age (±Standard deviation) of the patients was 32.3(±13.2) years. The study had a male to female ratio of 1:2.2. Psychiatric morbidity was noticed in 34 patients giving a prevalence rate of 37.8%. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was higher among females (40.3%) in comparison to males (32.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.459). Age (P=0.840) and duration of dermatological disorder (P=0.211) showed no significant relationship with psychiatric morbidity.

Conclusion: This study has shown that psychiatric conditions are common among patients with dermatological lesions. Hence it is necessary that mental health care is considered in the routine management of these patients.