Severe AD Linked to Mental Health Outcomes Across Childhood

Severe atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with symptoms of depression and internalizing behaviors across childhood and adolescence.

Researchers examined the association between AD and internalizing behaviors and symptoms of depression throughout childhood and adolescence in a longitudinal, population-based cohort study. They also explored potential facilitating factors such as asthma/rhinitis, sleep, and inflammation. Children in the study were followed up from birth for a mean of 10 years.

Analysis included 11,181 children. In these patients, mild to moderate AD was not associated with symptoms of depression, but it was associated with internalizing behaviors in children 4 years of age and older. Severe AD was associated with symptoms of depression and internalizing behaviors. Sleep quality may have some mediation of these associations, however, mediation was not explained by differences in sleep duration, other atopic disorders, and inflammatory markers.

“Within this population-based birth cohort study in the [United Kingdom], severe AD was associated with symptoms of depression and internalizing behaviors throughout childhood and adolescence,” concluded the study authors. “Risk of internalizing symptoms was increased even for children with mild AD beginning early in childhood, highlighting the importance of behavioral and mental health awareness in this population,” they added.

Reference

Kern C, Wan J, LeWinn KZ, et al. Association of atopic dermatitis and mental health outcomes across childhood: a longitudinal cohort study. JAMA Dermatol. Published online September 1, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2657