Psoriasis May Increase Risk of Developing Depression

The chronic inflammatory skin condition psoriasis was associated with the risk of major depression, although the risk was unrelated to the severity of the disorder, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology.

Psoriasis affects 3 percent to 4 percent of the U.S. population, and the psychological impact of psoriasis can be substantial. The identification of depression among patients with psoriasis is especially important because major depression is associated with decreased quality of life and increased all-cause mortality.

Roger S. Ho, MD, MS, MPH, of the New York University School of Medicine, New York, and coauthors examined the relationship between psoriasis and major depression in a nationally representative group, after adjusting for cardiovascular risk because prior research has suggested both depression and psoriasis are associated with cardiovascular disease.

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