Introduction to “Psychiatric Disorders in Dermatology”

Abstract

Welcome to Dermatological Reviews! “It is no small thing to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.”― Marty Rubin I have chosen to open this introduction with a quote because the skin's relevance should not be underestimated. Through its many roles, skin defines our physical and biological realms in both health and in illness. Almost all skin diseases are known to have physiological and psychological basis. Patients with chronic psychiatric disorders are prone to skin disease, emphasizing the role of psychological factors in their occurrence. From inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis, rosacea, acne vulgaris to autoimmune tissue disorders, and genodermatosis, the myriad of clinical manifestations is not devoid of psychological hallmarks. To better understand the relationship between psychiatry and dermatology, and the overlap between psychiatric disorders and the skin, we will hereby try to narrow the knowledge gap by featuring four articles on “Psychophysiological disorders and the Skin,” “Primary Psychiatric Disorders,” “Secondary Psychiatric Disorders and the Skin,” and respectively “The Association between Psoriasis and Suicide.” These articles expand on several topics and comment on key publications in the field with the sole purpose of emphasizing and summarizing pertinent information to clinical practice. The purpose of this journal is to provide easily accessible and applicable clinical information. This review is written for clinicians who devote their time to applying evidence‐based information on their patients. Our Editorial Board experts have a multidisciplinary background from the fields of Dermatology, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry. Each author brings years of clinical experience and provides practical considerations and clinical commentaries. Additionally, the “Primary Psychiatric Disorders” article will focus on depicting psychiatric disorders in which the dermatological manifestation is an important corollary. We aim to present multiple perspectives despite the abundance of inconclusive and even conflicting data. I truly hope that you will savor the “Conclusions” with their unique perspectives. It is our wish that the summaries of clinical studies, accompanying commentaries, and original research are “knowledge pearls” to those interested in Psychodermatology and beyond. We also hope to see positive outcomes and improvement in the quality of life for patients with various skin disorders based on the latest clinical evidence. The format of Dermatological Reviews provides a structured way for various specialties to collaborate and interact on various themes and fills a certain void in dermatological literature. We hope to fill this void and that you will enjoy reading this issue!