Classification of psychodermatological disorders: Proposal of a new international classification.

INTRODUCTION: Several classifications of psychodermatology disorders have been proposed, with most of them based on two to four main disorder category groups. However, there is, to date, no classification that has resulted from a consensus established by psychodermatology experts. The DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.), Text Revision) and the ICD-11 (International classification of diseases (11th revision)) also do not provide a systematized approach of psychodermatology disorders. Taking into consideration that classifications are a key pillar for a comprehensive approach to the pathologies of each branch of medicine, the proposal of a classification in psychodermatology appeared as a central need for the recognition of psychodermatological disorders, in an attempt to improve their recognition and, in that sense, to find a common language for the development of this subspecialty that crosses dermatology and psychiatry. METHODS: Previously published classifications in psychodermatology were critically reviewed and discussed by expert opinion from an international multidisciplinary panel of 16 experts in psychodermatology and a new classification system is proposed, considering classical concepts in general dermatology and psychopathology. RESULTS: Two main categories of disorders are presented (a main group related to primary mental health disorders and another main group related to primary skin disorders), which are subsequently subdivided into subgroups considering pathophysiological and phenomenological similarities, including key aspects of dermatological examination, namely the presence of visible skin lesions (primary and secondary skin lesions) and psychopathological correlates. CONCLUSION: This new classification aims to unify previous classifications, systematize the disorders that belong to psychodermatology and highlight their tenuous boundaries, to improve their management. It has been built and approved by the Psychodermatology Task Force of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry (ESDaP) and the Association for Psychoneurocutaneous Medicine of North America (APMNA).

Multiple basal cell carcinomas in Gorlin Syndrome treated with pulsed dye laser.

This is an observational study demonstrating the effectiveness of pulsed dye laser (PDL) as a treatment of basal cell carcinomas (BCC) in patients with Gorlin Syndrome. Over 200 BCCs localized to the head, neck, trunk, and extremities of a patient suffering from Gorlin Syndrome were successfully treated with PDL without subsequent scarring. PDL is a simple and rapid modality to destroy BCCs arising in patients with Gorlin Syndrome resulting in a preferable cosmetic outcome.

Patients with Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Associate with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: Results of a Multivariate Study of 300 Spanish Individuals with Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease associated with considerable physical and psychological comorbidities. Stress and emotional disturbances have been implicated in both triggering the onset and exacerbation of psoriasis. In order to determine the level of perceived stress and mood alterations in patients with psoriasis and their association with disease severity, 300 individuals completed diverse validated questionnaires assessing stress and psychological mood. Evaluation of perception of disease was also measured. A significant association between psoriasis severity and mood, emotional disturbances and an impact on assessments of the quality of life were observed. Particularly, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for Depression detected a significant risk for depression in relation to the disease severity. The association between depression features, anxiety and perceived stress with psoriasis severity is important and can influence the appropriate management of psoriasis.

Chronic social stress Ameliorates psoriasiform dermatitis through upregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis.

Acute stress is a physiological response of an organism to adverse conditions, contributing to survival; however, persistence through time may lead to disease. Indeed, exacerbation of inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis has been reported to follow stressors in susceptible patients. Because chronic stress cannot ethically be elicited in patients under controlled laboratory conditions, we studied genetically modified mice that naturally develop psoriasiform dermatitis, and subjected them to an ethological chronic social contact stress paradigm. Although we found elevated pro-inflammatory neuropeptide production of substance P (SP), calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nerve-growth factor (NGF) mRNA in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to the social stressor, stress paradoxically prevented the development of the skin lesions. This effect of stress could be reversed by the treatment with glucocorticoid (GC) receptor blockers, suggesting that it was mediated through the upregulation of corticosterone secretion. Extrapolating to humans, the worsening of disease in susceptible patients with psoriasis could be attributed to a defect in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis with an impaired production of GC during situations of adversity, thus rendering them unable to counteract the pro-inflammatory effects of chronic stressors.

Psychoneuro-oncology: How chronic stress grows cancer.

Chronic stress is an inextricable part of modern daily living; practically all human diseases, particularly cancer, are negatively affected by it. Numerous studies have shown that stressors, depression, social isolation, and adversity correlate with a worse prognosis for patients with cancer, with increased symptoms, early metastasis, and a shortened life span. Prolonged or very intense adverse life episodes are perceived and assessed by the brain and translated into physiologic responses mediated through relays to the hypothalamus and locus coereleus. This response triggers the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) with the secretion of glucocorticosteroids/epinephrine and norepinephrine (NE). These hormones and neurotransmitters affect immune surveillance and the immune response to malignancies by skewing immunity from a type 1 to a type 2 response; this process not only impedes the detection and killing of cancer cells but induces immune cells to facilitate cancer growth and systemic spread. It may be mediated by the engagement of norepinephrine to ß-adrenergic receptors, which can be partially reversed by the administration of ß-blockers.

Adoption of newly FDA-approved targeted immunomodulatory therapies by dermatologists: a cross-sectional analysis of Medicare Part D claims from 2013 to 2018.

Although targeted immunomodulatory medications are increasingly utilized for inflammatory skin conditions like plaque psoriasis, little is known of the trends in the adoption of newly Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approved immunomodulators by dermatologists. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of Medicare Part D Prescriber datasets to identify dermatologists filing Medicare prescription claims for immunomodulatory drugs FDA-approved for plaque psoriasis between 2013 and 2018. Differences in dermatologist characteristics were determined between dermatologists prescribing a psoriasis treatment within two years of its FDA approval, "early adopters" and non-prescriber dermatologists over the same time period. Biologics approved for psoriasis from 2013 to 2018 included certolizumab pegol, secukinumab, brodalumab, ixekizumab, guselkumab, and apremilast. Early adopter dermatologists (n = 783) accounted for 5% of all Medicare Part D prescribing dermatologists. Early adopters were more likely to be male, in practice longer, and had a greater number of average annual beneficiaries than dermatologists who did not. Only six (< 1%) early adopters practiced in a small town or rural areas. We believe these data show that the adoption of novel biologic treatments for psoriasis by dermatologists to Medicare beneficiaries may be associated with clinician experience and practice volume. Additionally, we identified low absolute numbers of dermatologists prescribing biologics overall in non-metropolitan areas, which may represent delayed access to novel psoriasis treatments for many Medicare beneficiaries.

Dysregulation of Bile Acids, Lipids, and Nucleotides in Psoriatic Arthritis Revealed by Unbiased Profiling of Serum Metabolites.

OBJECTIVE: The transition from psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) occurs in 20-30% of patients; however, the mechanisms underlying the emergence of musculoskeletal disease are not well understood. Metabolic disease is prevalent in psoriasis patients, but whether metabolic factors, other than obesity, increase arthritis risk in psoriasis patients is not known. This study was undertaken to investigate the link between metabolic changes and disease progression in psoriasis patients. METHODS: To characterize the metabolic alterations during the progression of arthritis in psoriasis patients, we analyzed cross-sectional healthy controls and PsA samples and longitudinal psoriasis serum samples, before and after PsA onset. Nontargeted metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. RESULTS: We identified several serum metabolites that differed between PsA patients, psoriasis patients, and healthy controls. Differentially abundant bile acids, purines, pyrimidines, glutathione, lipids, and amino acid metabolites were noted in these 3 groups. We also noted differences between psoriasis patients who progressed and those who did not progress to PsA. Bile acid and butyrate levels were depressed in those who progressed to PsA compared to those who did not, and the level of inflammatory lipid mediators increased following PsA diagnosis. In particular, the combination of leukotriene B4 and glycoursodeoxycholic acid sulfate were sensitive and specific predictors of PsA progression. CONCLUSION: We observed notable differences in bile acid, purine, lipid, and amino acid-derived metabolites, among the healthy controls, psoriasis patients, and PsA patients and identified changes during the transition from psoriasis to PsA. The decreased bile acid and butyrate levels and elevated guanine levels in psoriasis patients at risk for PsA were particularly striking and may reflect gut microbial dysbiosis and dysregulated hepatic metabolism, leading to altered proliferation of immune cells and enhanced cytokine expression.

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome: a case report in an adult.

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome (GCS) is a viral-associated eruption that most commonly occurs in children aged 15 months to 2 years. It consists of monomorphic red-brown to pink papules and vesicles distributed symmetrically on the cheeks, extensor surface of the extremities, and buttocks. The eruption usually spontaneously resolves over the course of 10 to 60 days. We report the rare case of GCS in an adult. An otherwise healthy 20-year-old woman presented with a pruritic eruption of 2 weeks' duration on the dorsal aspect of her hands and feet, elbows, and knees. The patient received oral corticosteroids prior to presentation to our clinic with some improvement. A biopsy revealed histopathologic findings consistent with a diagnosis of GCS. The patient's aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were elevated. Over the course of the next 2 months, the patient's skin findings completely resolved with normalization of liver function tests. The clinical and histologic correlation was consistent with GCS in an adult. This condition may not be as rare in adults as previously thought. Clinicians should keep GCS in their differential diagnosis when examining adult patients.

Catastrophic Cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa Exacerbated by Emotional Stress.

We present the first case of a patient with indolent polyarteritis nodosa who suffered severe exacerbations following significant emotional stressors. This report highlights the close relationship between emotions and autoimmune diseases mediated by the deleterious effects of stressors presumptively by skewing immunity from Type 1 to Type 2.

Efficacy of guselkumab, a selective IL-23 inhibitor, in Preventing Arthritis in a Multicentre Psoriasis At-Risk cohort (PAMPA): protocol of a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled multicentre trial.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex, immune-mediated disease associated with skin psoriasis that, if left untreated, can lead to joint destruction. Up to 30% of patients with psoriasis progress to PsA. In most cases, psoriasis precedes synovio-entheseal inflammation by an average of 5-7 years, providing a unique opportunity for early and potentially preventive intervention in a susceptible and identifiable population. Guselkumab is an effective IL-23p19 inhibitor Food and Drug Administration (FDA-approved for treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis and PsA. The Preventing Arthritis in a Multicentre Psoriasis At-Risk cohort (PAMPA) study aims to evaluate the efficacy of guselkumab in preventing PsA and decreasing musculoskeletal power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) abnormalities in a population of patients with psoriasis who are at-increased risk for PsA progression. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The PAMPA study is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, interventional, preventive trial comparing PDUS involvement and conversion to PsA in patients with psoriasis at-increased risk for progression treated with guselkumab compared with non-biological standard of care. The study includes a screening period, a double-blind treatment period (24 weeks) and an open-label follow-up period (72 weeks). At baseline, 200 subjects will be randomised (1:1) to receive either guselkumab 100 mg (arm 1) or placebo switching to guselkumab 100 mg starting at week 24 (arm 2). Arm 3 will follow 150 at-risk psoriasis patients who decline biological therapy and randomisation. Changes from baseline in the PDUS score at week 24 and the difference in proportion of patients transitioning to PsA at 96 weeks will be examined as the coprimary endpoints. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval for this study was granted by the coordinating centre's (NYU School of Medicine) Institutional Review Board (IRB). Each participating site received approval through their own IRBs. The findings will be shared in peer-reviewed articles and scientific conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05004727.

A Rare Case of Porocarcinoma and Trichoblastoma Arising in a Nevus Sebaceus of Jadassohn.

Nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn, or "organoid nevus," is a common, benign hamartoma of the skin consisting of epithelial and adnexal components. Its natural history and association with neoplastic growths is well documented. The majority of concomitant neoplasms are benign-trichoblastoma and syringocystadenoma papilliferum are most frequently discovered-but malignant tumors have been described. We present the case of a 58-year-old male with a congenital nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn on his left parietal scalp that had been enlarging, changing color, and bleeding over the prior year. Clinical exam and histology disclosed the presence of a trichoblastoma and porocarcinoma arising within the nevus sebaceus. Porocarcinoma is a rare, intermediately aggressive, malignant eccrine gland tumor that is frequently metastasized at presentation. Otolaryngology performed wide local resection with sentinel lymph node biopsy. This case highlights the diversity of tumors associated with nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn, potential for malignant expansion, and necessity for close monitoring and maintaining a low threshold for biopsy in evolving lesions.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine among adults with skin disease: updated results from a national survey.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used for a variety of diseases, including those of the skin. An estimate of the prevalence of CAM use among adults with skin disease using the alternative health supplement of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) has been published. OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the 2007 NHIS data to update the prevalence of CAM use among adults with skin disease in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using the 2007 alternative health supplement of the NHIS. RESULTS: Among those reporting skin problems in the past year, 84.5% (95% confidence interval 76.9-92.0) used CAM. Only 1.1% of this group (95% confidence interval 0.7-1.6) used CAM specifically for skin disease. Adjusting for race, sex, income, education level, and region, those reporting skin problems were more likely to use CAM than those who did not report skin problems (adjusted odds ratio 2.5, P ≤ .002, 95% confidence interval 1.4-4.4). Vitamin/mineral and herbal supplements were the most common CAM modalities used among those with skin disease in general, and among those who used CAM specifically for skin problems. LIMITATIONS: As this is not a dermatology-focused database, the definition of skin disease is limited. It was not possible to comment on trends between the 2002 and 2007 data because the 2007 survey was significantly changed. CONCLUSION: CAM use among adults with skin problems in the United States continues to be common. Addition of a specific dermatology supplement to a future NHIS survey would allow for population-based estimates not only of CAM use but of associations with other comorbid conditions among adults with skin disease in the United States.

Complementary and alternative medicine for psoriasis: a qualitative review of the clinical trial literature.

BACKGROUND: Patients with psoriasis often inquire about complementary and alternative medicine in an effort to do everything possible to control the disease. OBJECTIVE: We sought to review the clinical trial literature regarding complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of psoriasis. METHODS: We conducted qualitative systematic review of randomized, clinical trials. RESULTS: Although many randomized controlled trials were found, both the results and the quality of the studies varied. LIMITATIONS: The main limitations were the relatively low quality of studies (as assessed by Jadad scores), lack of inclusion of unpublished studies, and the fact that only one author determined inclusion of studies and assignment of Jadad scores. CONCLUSION: There is a large body of literature in regard to complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of psoriasis. More work is necessary before these modalities should be recommended to our patients.

Stress-induced erythema annulare centrifugum.

Stress is known to play a role in the course of many skin diseases. We report here a case of erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC) that appeared to be associated with stressors in the patient's life. On multiple occasions, EAC appeared with these episodes and cleared upon their resolution without medical treatment. The patient was otherwise healthy and had no known previously reported associations for this condition.

Health providers induced iatrogenic delusions of infestation.

Patients that suffer from factitial dermatosis mutilate their skin, often lacking any consciousness of self-injury, attributing the resulting lesions to spontaneous development. The case hereby described shows how the health providers' interventions led a patient from a baseline undiagnosed factitious disorder to frank delusions of infestation with Mycobacterium Kansasii, and a relentless search for antibiotic treatments. We highlight the need for educating health practitioners on the characteristics of psycho-cutaneous disorders.

Stress and atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex disease traditionally involving interaction of genetic, environmental, and immunologic factors. Recent studies suggest psycho-neuro-immunologic factors and emotional stress are important in its evolution. The observations that internal (bacterial infections) or external (psycho-logic) stressors may induce AD flares is explained by studies showing that stress impairs the skin barrier function and favors a shift in immunity toward a T helper type 2 cell/allergic response. Furthermore, those with AD appear to have an inherited hypothalamic deficiency that impairs normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. Neuropeptides released in the skin may also mediate neurogenic inflammation, including mast cell degranulation. AD causes significant stress and impaired quality of life in patients and their family members. Psychologic and stress-reduction interventions were recently shown to improve patient well-being, and to significantly improve cutaneous manifestations.

Psychoneuroimmunology.

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a discipline that has evolved in the last 40 years to study the relationship between immunity, the endocrine system, and the central and peripheral nervous systems. In this manner, neurotransmitters, hormones, and neuropeptides have been found to regulate immune cells, and these in turn are capable of communicating with nervous tissue through the secretion of a wide variety of cytokines. Of critical importance is the effect of products of the CNS and nerves on the maintenance of the delicate balance between cell-mediated (Th1) and humoral (Th2) immune responses. A good example of how this concept operates in vivo becomes evident when analyzing the effects of stressors. Chronic stress affects significantly the function of the immune system as well as modifies the evolution of a variety of skin diseases, as psychosocial interventions have proved to be effective in their therapy.