The relationship between sleep quality and chronotype differences and urticaria severity in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by persistent or recurrent pruritic lesions that last more than 6 weeks. Patients with CSU may experience sleep disturbances, particularly due to itching. Biological rhythms (chronotypes) are categorized as morningness, intermediate, and eveningness types. This study evaluates the relationship between sleep quality, chronotype, and disease severity in CSU patients. METHODS: The study included 53 CSU patients and 50 healthy controls. A sociodemographic data form was completed, and the disease severity was determined utilizing the Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days (UAS7). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scales as well as the Morningness-Eveningness Scale (MEQ) were applied to the participants. RESULTS: The CSU group had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) than that of the healthy control group. In terms of sleep and chronotype scales, compared to the control group, the CSU group had higher ISI scores as well as subscale scores on the PSQI subscales, with the exception of habitual sleep efficiency and total PSQI scores. There was no difference between MEQ scores. In the correlation analysis, the UAS7 and PSQI total scores were found to be correlated, whereas in the logistic regression analysis the estimated relative risk of BMI and PSQI total score for CSU was found to be 1.13 and 1.45, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: When dealing with CSU patients, it is necessary to conduct a sleep quality assessment as part of a holistic evaluation.

Psoriasis and Its Relationship With Somatosensory Amplification, Health Anxiety, and Depression.

Objective The present study investigates the relationship between psoriasis and diseases such as health anxiety, depression, and somatosensory amplification. Methods The participating patients (n=117, including 60 psoriasis patients and 57 controls) filled out the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS), and Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI) questionnaires. Results The mean scores from SSAS, HAI, and BDI were significantly higher in the psoriasis group than in the control group (p<0.05 in all comparisons). When the group medians of BAI were evaluated, the differences were not statistically significant, although BAI medians were higher in the patient group. Furthermore, a moderate correlation was found between the involvement of specific areas (especially the scalp and face) and SSAS scores. Conclusion Patients with psoriasis score highly in depression, health anxiety, and somatosensory amplification, and there was a moderate correlation between specific body area involvement (especially the scalp and face) and SSAS score. The results of this study seem to indicate that psychiatric assessment and treatment approaches should be included in the treatment of such chronic skin diseases as psoriasis that follow a life-long remission and relapse pattern.

The Relationship of Acne With Somatosensory Amplification, Health Anxiety, and Depression Levels.

Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the somatosensory amplification, as well as anxiety and depression levels in acne vulgaris (AV) patients, and to examine their relationship with disease severity. Methods Sociodemographic form, Global Acne Grading System (GAGS), Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS), Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were applied to the patient group. All scales, except GAGS, were also applied to the healthy controls. Results All psychiatric scale scores of acne patients were higher than those of the control group. Moreover, the patient group had significantly higher SSAS, BDI scores, HAI total scores, and subscales of hypersensitivity to somatic symptoms and anxiety compared to the healthy controls. A positive but weak correlation was found between all scale scores. In patients with AV, no correlation was found between acne severity, age, disease duration, and all scale scores. Conclusion A significant relationship was found between somatosensory amplification, depression, and health anxiety in acne patients, independent of global acne severity, age, and disease duration. More successful acne treatment and patient management will be possible with an interdisciplinary approach that includes both psychiatry and dermatology.