Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding the LinkRisk of DepressionSigns of DepressionPsoriasis and AnxietyTreatmentManaging Your Mental Health
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding the Link
Risk of Depression
Signs of Depression
Psoriasis and Anxiety
Treatment
Managing Your Mental Health
Psoriasisis a chronic autoimmune skin condition that often comes with mental health concerns, including depression. This connection is partially a result of lower self-esteem due to the skin’s appearance or location of the psoriasis lesions.
Furthermore, the same processes in the body that form plaques can also change the levels of brain chemicals that affect your mood.
People with psoriasis are 1.5 times more likely to have symptoms of depression than people who don’t have psoriasis.
In this article, learn more about the link between psoriasis and depression.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet and ©Te Whatu Ora Waikatowww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Understanding the Link Between Psoriasis and Depression
Scientists believe that there is a bidirectional relationship between psoriasis anddepression.This means that psoriasis can worsen depression, and depression can also contribute to psoriasis.
There is also abiological connectionbetween psoriasis and depression. Researchers have linked both depression and psoriasis to high levels ofinflammation.
A Word From VerywellPsoriasis is not just a “skin-deep” medical condition. It can also negatively impact a person’s psychosocial health. Current psoriasis therapy aims to address the whole picture, meaning its effects on skin, internal body systems, and mental health.—BRENDAN CAMP, MD
A Word From Verywell
Psoriasis is not just a “skin-deep” medical condition. It can also negatively impact a person’s psychosocial health. Current psoriasis therapy aims to address the whole picture, meaning its effects on skin, internal body systems, and mental health.—BRENDAN CAMP, MD
Psoriasis is not just a “skin-deep” medical condition. It can also negatively impact a person’s psychosocial health. Current psoriasis therapy aims to address the whole picture, meaning its effects on skin, internal body systems, and mental health.
—BRENDAN CAMP, MD
How Likely Is the Risk of Depression With Psoriasis?
People with psoriasis have a 1.5 times are at increased risk of developing depression than the general population.
Studies have found that between 10% and 62% of people with psoriasis have depression.However, having psoriasis does not mean you will develop depression.
Depressionis more than just being sad. The signs of depression are emotional, physical, social, and beyond.
Below are some common depression symptoms:
Knowing these signs can help you identify if you are experiencing depression related to your psoriasis.
Can Stress Cause Psoriasis Flare-Ups?
As with psoriasis and depression, there is also a link betweenpsoriasis and anxietydue to social and biological factors. Between 20% and 50% of people with psoriasis experience anxiety symptoms, which is higher than the rate among people who don’t have psoriasis.
Scientists believe this link is bidirectional, meaning that psoriasis may lead to anxiety, and anxiety can also trigger psoriasis flares.
Understanding the Link Between Psoriasis and Social Anxiety
Treatment for Psoriasis and Depression
Some research has shown that psoriasis treatments can improve both psoriasis and depression symptoms.
Biologics
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapyis a standard treatment for depression, but there is increasing evidence that psychotherapy can also be beneficial for treating psoriasis symptoms, likely due to the bidirectional relationship between the two conditions.
Antidepressants
Researchers have found thatantidepressants—medications used to treat depression—also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Multiple studies have found that antidepressant use—specifically monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), Wellbutrin (bupropion), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—was associated with reduced Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores. However, the studies are of varying sizes and quality.
Conversely, one 2023 study found the SSRI antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine) was associated with inducing psoriasis.
This is an emerging area of research, and there is still a lot to learn about the interplay between antidepressants and psoriasis. Speak to a healthcare provider about any new medications prescribed and discuss their possible side effects and complications.
Managing Your Mental Health With Psoriasis
Physical and mental health are closely related, and the connection between psoriasis and depression is a good example of this.
If you have psoriasis, it’s important to tend to your mental health as well as your physical symptoms. Below are some tips for managing your mental health with psoriasis.
Identify How Psoriasis Affects You
No two people experience psoriasis in the same way. Take some time to identify how your psoriasis affects you. Some questions to ask yourself are:
Understanding your psoriasis better can help you identify links between it and your mental health.
Aim for 8 Hours of Sleep
Experts recommend getting eight hours of sleep each night, especially for people with psoriasis; however, this is a bit easier said than done. Both depression and psoriasis are linked to sleep problems.
Your sleep may benefit if the medications for your psoriasis and depression have the carryover effect of helping you sleep better. If not, practicing nightlysleep hygiene habits, such as the following, may help:
Prioritize Exercise
Regular exercise can benefit your mental health, especially the conditions of depression and anxiety.Exercise is also highly regarded as a way to prevent or improve psoriasis flares.
However, people with psoriasis may face barriers to exercise, including from painful physical symptoms or being self-conscious of their visible lesions in public places like parks or gyms.Fortunately, there are many ways to exercise, and some may suit your comfort level more so than others. Examples include:
Health Complications of Psoriasis
Add Other Healthy Activities
Many healthy activities can help you manage your mental health with psoriasis. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Association recommends the following healthy habits for people with psoriasis:
Challenge Unhelpful Beliefs
People with psoriasis often feel stigmatized due to their lesions.If you notice unhelpful thoughts arising, try challenging them when they occur. Psoriasis is chronic but treatable, and there is hope. Every human body is different, and each person has their insecurities.
Talk About Your Concerns
It’s important to talk about your concerns, whether they relate to how psoriasis makes you feel or the mental health symptoms you’re experiencing.
Mainstream guidance is that healthcare providers should screen everyone with psoriasis for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation (preoccupation with suicide).In addition to talking to your providers, it can also help to be open with your loved ones about your struggles.
Summary
People with psoriasis are at higher risk of developing depression.These two conditions influence each other and share social and biological mechanisms. It is crucial to keep up with your psoriasis and depression treatments to manage both conditions.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Service.Living with psoriasis.Hedemann TL, Liu X, Kang CN, Husain MI.Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians.General Hospital Psychiatry. 2022;75:30-37. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006Hölsken S, Krefting F, Schedlowski M, Sondermann W.Common fundamentals of psoriasis and depression.Acta Derm Venereol. 2021;101(11):adv00609. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v101.565Łakuta P, Marcinkiewicz K, Bergler-Czop B, Brzezińska-Wcisło L, Słomian A.Associations between site of skin lesions and depression, social anxiety, body-related emotions and feelings of stigmatization in psoriasis patients.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2018;35(1):60-66. doi:10.5114/pdia.2016.62287Lukmanji A, Basmadjian RB, Vallerand IA, Patten SB, Tang KL.Risk of depression in patients With psoriatic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Cutan Med Surg. 2021;25(3):257-270. doi:10.1177/1203475420977477National Health Service.Symptoms - depression in adults.Fleming P, Bai JW, Pratt M, Sibbald C, Lynde C, Gulliver WP.The prevalence of anxiety in patients with psoriasis: a systematic review of observational studies and clinical trials.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(5):798-807. doi:10.1111/jdv.13891Nicholas MN, Gooderham M.Psoriasis, depression, and suicidality.Skin Therapy Lett. 2017;22(3):1-4. PMID:28486717.Timis TL, Beni L, Mocan T, Florian IA, Orasan RI.Biologic therapies decrease disease severity and improve depression and anxiety symptoms in psoriasis patients.Life (Basel). 2023;13(5):1219. doi:10.3390/life13051219Xiao Y, Zhang X, Luo D, et al.The efficacy of psychological interventions on psoriasis treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019;12:97-106. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S195181Eskeland S, Halvorsen J, Tanum L.Antidepressants have anti-inflammatory effects that may be relevant to dermatology: a systematic review.Acta Derm Venerol. 2017;97(8):897-905. doi:10.2340/00015555-2702Sadatmadani SF, Siadat AH, Iraji F, Alsahebfosoul F.Antidepressants and the risk of psoriasis induction: a case–control study.Adv Biomed Res. 2023;12:16. doi:10.4103%2Fabr.abr_88_21Sahin E, Hawro M, Weller K, et al.Prevalence and factors associated with sleep disturbance in adult patients with psoriasis.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(5):688-697. doi:10.1111/jdv.17917Mahindru A, Patil P, Agrawal V.Role of physical activity on mental health and well-being: a review.Cureus. 15(1):e33475. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.33475Yeroushalmi S, Hakimi M, Chung M, Bartholomew E, Bhutani T, Liao W.Psoriasis and exercise: a review.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2022;12:189-197. doi:10.2147%2FPTT.S349791American Academy of Dermatology Association.Healthy diet and other lifestyle changes that can improve psoriasis.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Service.Living with psoriasis.Hedemann TL, Liu X, Kang CN, Husain MI.Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians.General Hospital Psychiatry. 2022;75:30-37. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006Hölsken S, Krefting F, Schedlowski M, Sondermann W.Common fundamentals of psoriasis and depression.Acta Derm Venereol. 2021;101(11):adv00609. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v101.565Łakuta P, Marcinkiewicz K, Bergler-Czop B, Brzezińska-Wcisło L, Słomian A.Associations between site of skin lesions and depression, social anxiety, body-related emotions and feelings of stigmatization in psoriasis patients.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2018;35(1):60-66. doi:10.5114/pdia.2016.62287Lukmanji A, Basmadjian RB, Vallerand IA, Patten SB, Tang KL.Risk of depression in patients With psoriatic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Cutan Med Surg. 2021;25(3):257-270. doi:10.1177/1203475420977477National Health Service.Symptoms - depression in adults.Fleming P, Bai JW, Pratt M, Sibbald C, Lynde C, Gulliver WP.The prevalence of anxiety in patients with psoriasis: a systematic review of observational studies and clinical trials.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(5):798-807. doi:10.1111/jdv.13891Nicholas MN, Gooderham M.Psoriasis, depression, and suicidality.Skin Therapy Lett. 2017;22(3):1-4. PMID:28486717.Timis TL, Beni L, Mocan T, Florian IA, Orasan RI.Biologic therapies decrease disease severity and improve depression and anxiety symptoms in psoriasis patients.Life (Basel). 2023;13(5):1219. doi:10.3390/life13051219Xiao Y, Zhang X, Luo D, et al.The efficacy of psychological interventions on psoriasis treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019;12:97-106. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S195181Eskeland S, Halvorsen J, Tanum L.Antidepressants have anti-inflammatory effects that may be relevant to dermatology: a systematic review.Acta Derm Venerol. 2017;97(8):897-905. doi:10.2340/00015555-2702Sadatmadani SF, Siadat AH, Iraji F, Alsahebfosoul F.Antidepressants and the risk of psoriasis induction: a case–control study.Adv Biomed Res. 2023;12:16. doi:10.4103%2Fabr.abr_88_21Sahin E, Hawro M, Weller K, et al.Prevalence and factors associated with sleep disturbance in adult patients with psoriasis.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(5):688-697. doi:10.1111/jdv.17917Mahindru A, Patil P, Agrawal V.Role of physical activity on mental health and well-being: a review.Cureus. 15(1):e33475. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.33475Yeroushalmi S, Hakimi M, Chung M, Bartholomew E, Bhutani T, Liao W.Psoriasis and exercise: a review.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2022;12:189-197. doi:10.2147%2FPTT.S349791American Academy of Dermatology Association.Healthy diet and other lifestyle changes that can improve psoriasis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Health Service.Living with psoriasis.Hedemann TL, Liu X, Kang CN, Husain MI.Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians.General Hospital Psychiatry. 2022;75:30-37. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006Hölsken S, Krefting F, Schedlowski M, Sondermann W.Common fundamentals of psoriasis and depression.Acta Derm Venereol. 2021;101(11):adv00609. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v101.565Łakuta P, Marcinkiewicz K, Bergler-Czop B, Brzezińska-Wcisło L, Słomian A.Associations between site of skin lesions and depression, social anxiety, body-related emotions and feelings of stigmatization in psoriasis patients.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2018;35(1):60-66. doi:10.5114/pdia.2016.62287Lukmanji A, Basmadjian RB, Vallerand IA, Patten SB, Tang KL.Risk of depression in patients With psoriatic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Cutan Med Surg. 2021;25(3):257-270. doi:10.1177/1203475420977477National Health Service.Symptoms - depression in adults.Fleming P, Bai JW, Pratt M, Sibbald C, Lynde C, Gulliver WP.The prevalence of anxiety in patients with psoriasis: a systematic review of observational studies and clinical trials.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(5):798-807. doi:10.1111/jdv.13891Nicholas MN, Gooderham M.Psoriasis, depression, and suicidality.Skin Therapy Lett. 2017;22(3):1-4. PMID:28486717.Timis TL, Beni L, Mocan T, Florian IA, Orasan RI.Biologic therapies decrease disease severity and improve depression and anxiety symptoms in psoriasis patients.Life (Basel). 2023;13(5):1219. doi:10.3390/life13051219Xiao Y, Zhang X, Luo D, et al.The efficacy of psychological interventions on psoriasis treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019;12:97-106. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S195181Eskeland S, Halvorsen J, Tanum L.Antidepressants have anti-inflammatory effects that may be relevant to dermatology: a systematic review.Acta Derm Venerol. 2017;97(8):897-905. doi:10.2340/00015555-2702Sadatmadani SF, Siadat AH, Iraji F, Alsahebfosoul F.Antidepressants and the risk of psoriasis induction: a case–control study.Adv Biomed Res. 2023;12:16. doi:10.4103%2Fabr.abr_88_21Sahin E, Hawro M, Weller K, et al.Prevalence and factors associated with sleep disturbance in adult patients with psoriasis.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(5):688-697. doi:10.1111/jdv.17917Mahindru A, Patil P, Agrawal V.Role of physical activity on mental health and well-being: a review.Cureus. 15(1):e33475. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.33475Yeroushalmi S, Hakimi M, Chung M, Bartholomew E, Bhutani T, Liao W.Psoriasis and exercise: a review.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2022;12:189-197. doi:10.2147%2FPTT.S349791American Academy of Dermatology Association.Healthy diet and other lifestyle changes that can improve psoriasis.
National Health Service.Living with psoriasis.
Hedemann TL, Liu X, Kang CN, Husain MI.Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians.General Hospital Psychiatry. 2022;75:30-37. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006
Hölsken S, Krefting F, Schedlowski M, Sondermann W.Common fundamentals of psoriasis and depression.Acta Derm Venereol. 2021;101(11):adv00609. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v101.565
Łakuta P, Marcinkiewicz K, Bergler-Czop B, Brzezińska-Wcisło L, Słomian A.Associations between site of skin lesions and depression, social anxiety, body-related emotions and feelings of stigmatization in psoriasis patients.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2018;35(1):60-66. doi:10.5114/pdia.2016.62287
Lukmanji A, Basmadjian RB, Vallerand IA, Patten SB, Tang KL.Risk of depression in patients With psoriatic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Cutan Med Surg. 2021;25(3):257-270. doi:10.1177/1203475420977477
National Health Service.Symptoms - depression in adults.
Fleming P, Bai JW, Pratt M, Sibbald C, Lynde C, Gulliver WP.The prevalence of anxiety in patients with psoriasis: a systematic review of observational studies and clinical trials.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(5):798-807. doi:10.1111/jdv.13891
Nicholas MN, Gooderham M.Psoriasis, depression, and suicidality.Skin Therapy Lett. 2017;22(3):1-4. PMID:28486717.
Timis TL, Beni L, Mocan T, Florian IA, Orasan RI.Biologic therapies decrease disease severity and improve depression and anxiety symptoms in psoriasis patients.Life (Basel). 2023;13(5):1219. doi:10.3390/life13051219
Xiao Y, Zhang X, Luo D, et al.The efficacy of psychological interventions on psoriasis treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019;12:97-106. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S195181
Eskeland S, Halvorsen J, Tanum L.Antidepressants have anti-inflammatory effects that may be relevant to dermatology: a systematic review.Acta Derm Venerol. 2017;97(8):897-905. doi:10.2340/00015555-2702
Sadatmadani SF, Siadat AH, Iraji F, Alsahebfosoul F.Antidepressants and the risk of psoriasis induction: a case–control study.Adv Biomed Res. 2023;12:16. doi:10.4103%2Fabr.abr_88_21
Sahin E, Hawro M, Weller K, et al.Prevalence and factors associated with sleep disturbance in adult patients with psoriasis.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(5):688-697. doi:10.1111/jdv.17917
Mahindru A, Patil P, Agrawal V.Role of physical activity on mental health and well-being: a review.Cureus. 15(1):e33475. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.33475
Yeroushalmi S, Hakimi M, Chung M, Bartholomew E, Bhutani T, Liao W.Psoriasis and exercise: a review.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2022;12:189-197. doi:10.2147%2FPTT.S349791
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Healthy diet and other lifestyle changes that can improve psoriasis.
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