Acne is one of the most common skin conditions worldwide, affecting 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 with over $3 billion dollars spent annually on treatment in the United States alone. While the visible symptoms of acne (comedones and inflammatory lesions) are well-known, acne is more than skin-deep. Up to 85% of adolescents with acne will experience a negative psychosocial outcome related to their skin condition. The most common negative outcomes are anxiety, depression, body dysmorphic disorder, decreased self-esteem, and decreased quality of life. These comorbidities can be extremely detrimental if unrecognized and untreated; acne is the second-most common skin condition to end in suicide.
One of the major difficulties in providing well-rounded care for the acne patient beyond their dermatologic needs has been the identification of these psychosocial comorbidities. There is no current standard for evaluating for the presence of these symptoms and they can be difficult to elicit in a pediatric population. While surveys can screen for symptoms (the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index; the Cardiff Acne Disability Index), they are infrequently used. Subsequently, necessary treatment for these symptoms is foregone when the problem goes unrecognized.
In order to better identify and treat the negative psychosocial impacts of acne, a multidisciplinary approach involving a concurrent medical and psychological approach is recommended. Examples include support groups, educational interventions, and multidisciplinary clinics. The aim of this proposed study is to evaluate the utility of a multidisciplinary behavioral health clinic in which patients are seen by a dermatologist and a psychologist at the same session. With this model, the dermatologist can evaluate the patients’ skin and encourage them to discuss how their acne may be impacting their life. Then, the psychologist can offer advice on what may help each patient’s individual symptoms. This advice may include coping strategies or referrals to specialists for further support.
Patients will attend the clinic monthly and their progress will be recorded via Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index scores, acne severity, and psychological diagnoses made at the clinic. It is predicted that the multidisciplinary behavioral health clinic will reveal previously undiagnosed psychological conditions in acne patients, improve patients’ quality of life, and improve the severity of their acne. This is clinically significant in providing a comprehensive treatment approach to the pediatric acne patient, recognizing that the symptoms and outcomes of acne are more than skin deep.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/43870 |
| Date | 10 February 2022 |
| Creators | Massoud, Samantha |
| Contributors | Shen, Lisa, Weinstein, John R. |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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