Many people with skin problems, like eczema or psoriasis, also experience significant psychological stress, which can worsen their condition. Likewise, patients with mental health disorders, like anxiety and depression, often experience worsening or comorbid dermatologic diseases such as skin picking disorder. This creates a vicious cycle and imposes significant burden for patients, their caregivers and the healthcare system. These conditions are called Psychodermatologic conditions and are often missed or untreated because of a lack of proper screening tools and training. This project aims to improve the way we identify and treat psycho-dermatologic disorders.
Our goal is to develop a new tool, the Alberta PsychDerm Scale (APDS), to help doctors better identify psychodermatology patients. The tool will be used by dermatologists, family doctors, and psychiatrists to screen patients, allowing for earlier diagnosis and referral such as to a specialized multi-disciplinary clinic. We will create this tool with input from patients and experts in dermatology, psychiatry, and psychology, and validate it with patients in Alberta. The tool will help ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate care, reducing their suffering and improving their quality of life. Once developed and validated, we will share the tool internationally, so it can benefit more patients worldwide.
