Objective:

The developmental interactions of the skin and nervous system are associated with the high incidence of psychosomatic and behavioral disturbances observed in dermatological disorders. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of psychocutaneous disease among university students presenting at the dermatology outpatients department.

Methods:

The study was carried out on patients who presented at the two different dermatology outpatients department during March-May 2007 and received a diagnosis of psychocutaneous disorder. Sociodemographic variables were noted. The severity and distribution of the disease was determined with a dermatology examination. Frequencies were determined and the descriptive statistics and chi square test used to calculate the association between disease duration, disease groups and demographic variables.

Results:

The most common psychocutaneous disorder in our study was alopecia areata. The second most common disorder in our study was urticaria. The university environment was defined as a factor influencing the disease course in our alopecia areata and urticaria cases.

Conclusion:

It is apparent that psychiatry and dermatology specialists need to cooperate in the treatment of psychocutaneous disorder patients. The psychodermatological approach requires noting the patient's personality traits, accompanying psychiatric diseases, family status, occupation and social status and merging these into the treatment plan, in addition to treating the skin disorder itself.

Keywords: psychocutaneous diseases, neurotic excoriation, alopecia areata, urticaria