Psychocutaneous Medicine: Current Global Understanding and Imperatives for Continuing Medical Education and Training Opportunities: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

The intersection of dermatology and psychiatry has gained significant attention in recent years. Psychocutaneous disease affect patient population, who have undiagnosed and undertreated ailments related to the body and mind. These patients suffer a reduce quality of life due to knowledge gaps and reduce awareness about psycho dermatology. This review aims to assess the integration of psychopharmacology topics in continuing medical education programs (CME) and its relevance in clinical practice, it's impact on healthcare professionals' quality of care, and existing knowledge gaps among trainees and young dermatologists. To identify data from inception up to December 2023, a systematic literature review and search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Pubmed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched using predefined terms including "continuing medical education", "dermatology", "psychology", "psychodermatology", "psychocutaneous", "awareness" and "practice patterns". Inclusion criteria comprised studies evaluating CME programs, clinical studies and reviews published in English language. Studies were excluded if they were single case reports. A total of 93 studies were identified and 12 were included in this review following screening, removal of duplicates, and application of inclusion criteria. Studies revealed lower level of confidence among professionals in handling psycho cutaneous conditions, limited awareness of available resources and high interest in CME programs. Initiatives like video mentoring and clinical skills lessons showed promise but are currently scarce. Examined data from selected studies demonstrate that current CME programs in psychodermatology lack depth, leaving practitioners feeling ill equipped and unaware of available resources. There is substantial global interest in enhancing these programs. Given the breadth of conditions covered, educating dermatologists is crucial for enhanced patient outcomes and satisfaction. Addressing resource scarcity and patient stigma is imperative to develop specialized programs. Improvement to education can drive stronger outcomes and holistic patient care. Future efforts should prioritize refining program strategies and conducting thorough assessments to maximize impact.