Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Oliveira, S.G.
• Pereira, S.M.
• Mendes, J.C.

Titel

Psychosis and autoimmune disorders

Ist Teil von

• European psychiatry, 2011-03, Vol.26 (S2), p.1186-1186

Erscheinungsjahr

2011

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Introduction Psoriasis is a common, chronic, erythematous dermatosis with prevalence estimates ranging from 0, 3% to 2, 5%. This recurring disorder is associated with significant psychological distress, a decrease in health-related quality of life and psychiatric morbidity. The most common psychiatric comorbidities are mental retardation, personality disorder and affective disorders. Objectives The authors’ aim is to present a clinical vignette of a 27-year-old male suffering from psoriasis who was admitted to the psychiatric yard exhibiting psychotic symptoms. A literature's review about the association between psychosis and autoimmune disorders, particularly with psoriasis vulgaris, was also made. Case report The patient is a 27-year-old single male with normal IQ. He had no physical ilnesses during childhood and adolescence. There was no history of psychiatric or developmental disorders in the patient and his family. In early adulthood he was diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris. The patient's father also suffered from the same skin disorder. At the age of 27 he began to hear voices commenting on his behaviour and he exhibited psychomotor agitation, delusions of persecution, and sexual disinhibition. Admission in psychiatric yard was necessary to treat psychotic symptoms. Conclusions The skin and the brain are embryologically related. Consequently, a relationship between psychological factors and skin diseases has long been hypothesized. Schizophrenia has been associated with nearly 50% higher lifetime prevalence of one or more autoimmune disorders but further studies are necessary to elucidate the possible association between psoriasis vulgaris and psychosis.