The Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Dermatologic Conditions
Abstract:
Introduction: The skin is a defining feature of our physical appearance and it plays critical role not only as physical protection but also in psychological well beingwellbeing. The bidirectional relationship between skin diseases and mental health has been increasingly recognized in clinical practice Primary care physicians serve as the first point of contact for many dermatologic complaints, placing them in a key position to recognize not only cutaneous pathology but also associated mental health concerns. However, data on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among derma tology patients in Puerto Rico remain limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in adults presenting to a dermatology clinic.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a Dermatology clinic in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico from January 2024 to March 2024. 40 adult patients 21 years old and older presenting for dermatologic care completed an anonymous self-administered survey via QR code containing the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ-8). ).). Depressive symptoms were categorized using standard PHQ-8 cutoff scores. Descriptivescores. Descriptive statis tics were used to analyze demographic characteristics and depression prevalence. This study was approved by the Ponce Health Science University IRB #2312177514. Results: 40 participants completed the survey. The sample was predominantly female (63%), with a mean age of 33.7 years (SD = 9.7). The majority of participants (83%) scored within the normal range on the PHQ-8. Mild depressive symptoms were identified in 15% of participants, and 3% met criteria for moderate depressive symptoms. No participants met criteria for severe depression. The mean PHQ-8 score was 2.7 (SD = 2.6). The estimated prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms (mild or greater) was 17.5% (95% CI: 7.0%–36.1%).
Conclusions: Approximately one in six patients presenting with dermatologic conditions exhibited depressive symp toms, comparable to general population estimates in Puerto Rico (15%). While this finding did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference from the general population, it underscores the clinical importance of screening for mental health concerns in dermatology practice. The limited sample size may have restricted our ability to detect meaningful differences. These findings support the integration of mental health screening into routine dermatologic care, particularly given the established bidirectional relationship between dermatologic disease and psychological well-being.
