Smoking, alcohol, internet addictions common in patients with psoriasis

Addictions to smoking, alcohol and the internet were common in patients with psoriasis, according to a study.

Maximilian C. Schielein, MD, of the department of dermatology and allergy at the Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and the department of medical informatics, biometry and epidemiology at Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, and colleagues highlighted a number of mental health comorbidities that come with psoriasis, including depression and anxiety.

However, while it is known that alcohol and tobacco addiction are also common in this patient population, there are few data on other addictive behaviors.

In the cross-sectional study, Schielein and colleagues assessed prevalence rates of the six most common addictions among 502 patients (mean age, 49.7 years; 43.4% women) with psoriasis from four dermatology clinics and 32 practices in Germany, as well as determined the clinical factors that are associated with these addictions. Recruitment occurred between September 2018 and November 2019.

Participants completed questionnaires pertaining to the six addictive behaviors, along with those about depression, anxiety and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores also were included.

Results showed that 30.3% participants smoked daily, while 8.6% reported alcohol addictions and 1.2% gambled. Internet addiction was reported in 3.8%, while 3.6% had addictions to food and 6% had drug addictions.

With the exception of alcohol, younger patients were more likely to demonstrate these addictive behaviors.

“Addictions seem to be common among psoriasis patients,” the researchers concluded. “Further research should include comprehensive data and control groups, furthermore, standardized screenings and early referrals could represent first steps to improve people-centered healthcare for patients with psoriasis.”