Pattern of dermatoses in two groups of admitted psychiatric patients: a cross-sectional study from a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir.

Background: Various specific and non-specific dermatological manifestations can be found in patients with psychiatric ailments. Most studies in this regard have been conducted on an outpatient basis and not much work has been done on patients admitted with psychiatric diseases.

Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study involved two groups of admitted psychiatric patients over a period of 1 year, involving 100 patients in each group. In the family ward group patients were admitted with accompanying family members, whereas in the closed ward group patients were kept under custodial care.

Results: In the family ward setting, eczema was the most common finding, observed in 29 patients, followed by atrophic scarring in 28 patients, erythema ab igne in 25 patients, and bacterial infections in five patients. Various forms of nail changes were seen in 18 patients. In the closed ward group, most common dermatological involvement was parasitic infestation, seen in 56 patients, followed by generalized pruritus in 53 patients and atrophic scarring in 52 patients. Thirty-eight patients had nail changes.

Conclusion: Skin manifestations are more common in chronic neglected psychiatric patients under custodial care. The authors stress upon the importance of familial care provided to psychiatric patients living in custodial settings.