Internalized Skin Bias in HS Associated With Adverse Psychopathology

According to a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Dermatology, internalized skin bias (ISB) in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) plays an important role in the associations between adverse psychopathology and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Researchers aimed to evaluate the associations of ISB with age, adverse psychopathology, and HRQOL in adult patients with HS in a cross-sectional analysis. Patients who were recruited from an academic medical center, alongside virtual social and recruitment networks, were given an online survey. The primary outcome of the study was HRQOL as measured by the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Quality of Life instrument.

A total of 230 patients completed the survey. Of these patients, 56.5% of the scores qualified for moderate or greater anxiety, and 45.7% for moderate or greater depression. Strong levels of impairment were indicated, with 34.5 as the mean HRQOL scores. Internalized Skin Bias Questionnaire scores were correlated with depression, HRQOL, and anxiety. ISB and anxiety were predictors of impaired HRQOL.

“This cross-sectional study found that ISB was associated with adverse psychopathology and impaired HRQOL in patients with HS,” concluded the study authors. “Furthermore, ISB appears to mediate the associations of depression and anxiety with HRQOL,” they added.

Reference
Butt M, Rigby A, Leslie DL, et al. Associations of internalized skin bias with age, adverse psychopathology, and health-related quality of life among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: a cross-sectional analysis. JAMA Dermatol. Published online March 16, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.0248