Association of Psoriasis with Psychiatric Hospitalization in United States Children and Adults

Background: Psoriasis is associated with psychosocial distress. Little is known about the relationship between psoriasis and mental health (MH) emergencies.

Objective: To examine the associations of psoriasis and MH hospitalizations in the USA.

Methods: Data from the 2002-2012 National Inpatient Sample were analyzed, including an approximately 20% sample of all US hospitalizations (n = 87,053,155 children and adults).

Results: Hospitalization for MH disorders occurred more commonly in those with psoriasis compared to those without psoriasis (4.04 vs. 2.21%). In multivariable logistic regression models, psoriasis was associated with higher odds of admission for any MH disorder overall (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.32 [2.24-2.41]), as well as 9 of the 15 MH-specific disorders examined. Associated MH disorders included: anxiety, schizophrenia, personality disorder, depression, substance use disorders, history of MH disorder, alcohol-related disorders, adjustment disorders, and cognitive disorders. Children with versus those without psoriasis were also more likely to have a primary hospitalization for any MH disorder (2.82 [2.24-3.56]). Psoriasis inpatients were also more likely to have a primary hospitalization for any MH disorder compared to those with alopecia areata (1.99 [1.45-2.74]) or hidradenitis suppurativa (3.97 [3.49-4.52]). Psoriasis patients hospitalized with any MH disorder had higher mean [95% confidence interval] cost of inpatient care (USD 11,004 [10,846-11,241] vs. 9,547 [8,730-10,364]; p < 0.0001) compared to those without psoriasis, with USD 1,610,860 excess costs annually, with the majority of the costs coming from depression and mood disorders.

Conclusions: Children and adults with psoriasis had increased hospitalization for multiple MH disorders, which were associated with a considerable financial burden.