Depression in dermatological patients identified by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview questionnaire

Background: Early diagnosis and treatment of depression are of vital importance in dermatological patients. Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of depression among patients visiting a dermatology clinic in southern Israel. Methods: Patients who visited the dermatology clinic were interviewed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview screening tool. Results: The study included 384 patients. The screening questionnaire identified 37 patients (9.6%) with major depression, 3 patients (0.8%) with minor depression, and 74 patients (19.3%) with depressive symptoms. Higher prevalence of depression was found among widowers, among divorced or separated patients, and in unemployed patients. Depression was significantly associated with the perception of severity and suffering induced by the skin diseases. Limitations: The study was conducted in a cross-sectional design. To confirm causality, a longitudinal study should be conducted. Conclusion: Depression should be a consideration by dermatologists in the effective management of skin diseases.