Cutaneous Manifestations of Psychiatric Disease That Commonly Present to the Dermatologist—Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract

Patients whose psychopathology is expressed in cutaneous lesions often consult a dermatologist rather than a psychiatrist. Dermatologists may not be interested in working with these difficult patients. The need for liaison dermatology is becoming more widely recognized. This article discusses the place of psychiatric consultation in the dermatology setting, and describes the common dermatologic presentations of psychopathology: cutaneous delusions, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, expressions of depression, and dermatitis-artefacta. Diagnostic criteria for these conditions are outlined and a treatment approach, within the competence of the interested dermatologist, is offered.