Scientists talked about the relationship between skin symptoms and mental disorders

The scientific community is increasingly paying attention to the relationship between skin condition and mental health. A new study has shown that skin symptoms may portend a high risk of depression and suicidal behavior in patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis. This was reported in the journal Medical Xpress.

The work was presented at the ECNP annual conference in Amsterdam and covered 481 patients who experienced the first episode of psychosis, a condition in which a person loses touch with reality, experiences hallucinations or delusions.

According to the study, 14.5% of the participants had dermatological symptoms: itching, rash, hypersensitivity to light. After four weeks of therapy with antipsychotic drugs, scientists recorded differences in the dynamics of mental state between the groups of patients.

According to the head of the study, Dr. Joaquin Galvan from the Sanitarium Gregorio Maranhón Institute of Medical Research (Madrid), "after four weeks of follow-up, patients with skin diseases showed higher levels of depression and suicide risk." Among those who did not have skin symptoms, suicidal thoughts or attempts were recorded in 7%, while in the group with skin manifestations — in 25%."

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The scientist noted that the presence of skin disorders at an early stage of psychosis may indicate a worse prognosis and more pronounced depressive symptoms. According to him, "this discovery can help doctors identify at-risk patients in a timely manner and adapt treatment to their needs."

Researchers attribute this dependence to the common embryonic origin of the skin and nervous system, both formed from ectoderm. This led experts to believe that skin symptoms may be a kind of "alarm signal" about internal mental problems.

It is clarified that it was previously known that from 30 to 60% of people with skin diseases suffer from mental disorders. Galvan clarified that the connection is probably explained by common inflammatory mechanisms and neuroimmune processes. However, additional studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis, including the analysis of patients with bipolar disorder, anxiety and depressive states.

The scientists emphasize that the results of the study open up the prospect of using skin symptoms as a biomarker of the risk of severe mental disorders, just as a blood test indicates the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases or oncopathologies.

In September, cognitive patterns specialist and business consultant Alexey Bondarev shared recommendations on how to prevent burnout at work. He advised me to identify an activity that comes easily and naturally, whether it's idea generation, creativity, or analysis. The expert also identified three types of joys that help maintain balance: physical (sports, massage), impressions (new places, meetings) and solitude (time alone with oneself). Bondarev warned about a common mistake that hinders career growth — defocusing, when a person tries to cover too many areas, which leads to stress and superficial knowledge.

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