[Outpatient expectations in dermatology consultations: A pilot study]. / Attente des patients consultant un dermatologue «de ville¼: une étude pilote.

BACKGROUND: Understanding patients' expectations with regard to medical care is critical as it guarantees an efficient therapeutic process. Our aim was to determine outpatients' expectations concerning clinical encounters in a dermatology clinic and to study how these matched the opinions of dermatologists regarding them. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive outpatients consulting in five dermatology centres in the Paris suburbs between February 2013 and March 2013 were prospectively included. For this pilot cross-sectional study, we used two standardized forms to collect data from patients and dermatologists. Patients' answers were compared to those of their dermatologist, and the degree of matching was calculated to assess the ability of dermatologists to accurately identify their patients' expectations. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-five patients were included, with a median age of 41 years (interquartile range: 25; 62), of whom 166 were women (65.4%). Patient's principal expectations concerned diagnosis (51.7%) and medication (40.8%), with 32.1% of patients requiring reassurance. The rates of matching between patients' and dermatologists' answers ranged from 33.3% to 65.7% according to the type of expectations. The highest rate concerned expectation with regard to medications, being only 52.6% and 58.8%, respectively for expectations regarding diagnosis and the need for reassurance. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for improved identification of outpatient expectations in dermatology consultations.

[Isotretinoin and adolescent depression]. / Isotrétinoïne et dépression à l'adolescence.

BACKGROUND: Isotretinoin, indicated in France in the treatment of severe acne (e.g. nodular acne, acne conglobata or acne likely to result in permanent scarring) resistant to adequate cure by standard systemic antibiotic therapy and topical treatments, has on occasion been suspected of being associated with suicide. A study involving collective reflection on this issue is presented herein. METHODS: The Psychodermatology Group of the French Dermatology Society, made up of dermatologists, psychiatrists, paediatric psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and clinical psychologists, met several times and views were exchanged by e-mail. The first two authors drafted the present article, which was then re-read, modified and approved by the members of the Psychodermatology Group, in particular by the co-authors. The article was then modified at the request of the proofreaders of the Annales de Dermatologie and re-read once more by members of the Psychodermatology Group. RESULTS: Psychological disturbances, including depression and other suicidal tendencies, are extremely common during adolescence and are clearly increased by acne, particularly where it is severe. Isotretinoin does not appear to increase this risk. CONCLUSION: Routine screening should be performed for psychological disturbance in adolescents, particularly among those presenting acne. Prescription of isotretinoin is not contraindicated in subjects presenting depression.

Topical corticosteroid phobia in atopic dermatitis: a study of its nature, origins and frequency.

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids remain the mainstay of atopic dermatitis therapy. Many atopic dermatitis therapeutic failures appear to be attributable to poor adherence to treatment due to topical corticosteroid phobia. OBJECTIVES: To assess the facets, origins and frequency of fear of topical corticosteroid use among patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: A questionnaire comprising 69 items, generated from information gathered during interviews with 21 patients and 15 health professionals, was given to consecutive patients consulting at the outpatient dermatology departments of five regional university hospitals or with 53 dermatologists in private practice. RESULTS: A total of 208 questionnaires were analysed (including 144 from parents and 87 from adult patients, 27 of whom were also parents); 80·7% of the respondents reported having fears about topical corticosteroids and 36% admitted nonadherence to treatment. A correlation was found between topical corticosteroid phobia and the need for reassurance, the belief that topical corticosteroids pass through the skin into the bloodstream, a prior adverse event, inconsistent information about the quantity of cream to apply, a desire to self-treat for the shortest time possible or poor treatment adherence. Topical corticosteroid phobia was not correlated with atopic dermatitis severity. CONCLUSION: Topical corticosteroid phobia is a genuine and complex phenomenon, common among French patients with atopic dermatitis, that has an important impact on treatment compliance.

[Psychological impact of acne vulgaris]. / Impact psychologique de l'acné.

Through its visible clinical aspect, acne induces a significantly impaired body image which is not correlated to clinical severity. This diminished body image and the resulting psychosocial behaviour must be considered to optimize the treatment. In addition, depressive disorders related to bodily concern are frequently observed during adolescence period and faced with these bodily transformations, acne can be a source of anxiety. It is therefore important to spot the symptoms of depression and indeed treat them if they are persistent, because they impair "self-image" and have an influence on the wish to "take care of oneself".

[Stress and seborrheic dermatitis]. / Stress et dermatite séborrhéique.

BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that episodes of seborrheic dermatitis are frequently induced by stress, as stated in all general reviews of the subject. However, there have been no studies to confirm this view. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed in two phases. An initial questionnaire collected information on patients' identity, somatic and psychiatric history and seborrheic dermatitis characteristics. Information on triggering episodes was sought by means of an open question and patients were then asked if they had experienced stress during the week or month prior to the active episode. A second questionnaire containing the same questions (except for history) was completed four months later. The two questionnaires contained psychopathological evaluation scales designed to detect symptoms of anxiety and depression among patients (HAD: Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale; Beck; STAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and determine their perceived stress (PSS: Perceived Stress Scale by Cohen and Williamson). RESULTS: Eighty-two patients (36 women and 46 men) were included in the study. 82% of patients presented involvement of scalp, 33% of the face, 19% of the chest and 13% of other sites (ears, skinfolds). Patients themselves identified stress as the main triggering factor, whether for episodes in general, for the first episode or for the current episode. A stressful event was in fact found in the majority of cases. The fact that stress was recognised as a triggering factor for episodes was not associated with a higher depression score (HAD or Beck) but was associated with a higher anxiety score (STAI). The psychological effects of the disease were pronounced in 11% of patients, moderate in 20%, mild in 35%, and nil in 25%, with 9% of patients stating no opinion. Patients with facial involvement were more depressed in terms of Beck Depression Index score. Two characteristics noted at inclusion were predictive for the onset of at least one further episode or persistence of an ongoing episode four months later: patients' designation of stress as the cause of the previous episode, and STAI score. DISCUSSION: This study confirms that seborrheic dermatitis is often preceded by a stressful event and that stress tends to suggest a poor prognosis. This is the first study to show a possible link between stressful life events and episodes of seborrheic dermatitis. It suggests the need to confirm these results through a study comparing patients with seborrheic dermatitis and subjects without the disease. It also shows that depression is more common among patients with facial involvement and that anxiety is an aggravating factor.