Project:
Dr Parker Magin
GP and researcher, University of Newcastle

Funding:
Supported by the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Strategy

Common skin diseases such as acne, psoriasis and eczema affect millions of Australians, many of who will see their GP for help.

Yet the impressions gained by researcher Dr Parker Magin in his clinical work as a GP suggested the potentially significant psychological effects of these conditions on their sufferers would often be trivialised.

The existing body of literature on the link between skin diseases and psychological or psychiatric illness has been almost entirely conducted in specialist, not general, practice.

This is despite the fact that skin problems are raised between GPs and their patients in 1 in 6 consultations in Australia each year. This new research involved studies of patients with acne, psoriosis, and eczema in general and specialist practice, and a high school-based study of adolescents with acne.

Conducted in collaboration with GPs and schools, the research revealed significant levels of psychological suffering attributed to skin disease by patients.

Patients’ psychological conditions did not meet criteria for specific psychiatric morbidities but they nonetheless caused considerable suffering. More prominent were other morbidities such as embarrassment, shame and selfconsciousness.

An analysis of the data confirmed a significantly greater overall psychological morbidity and selfconsciousness in skin-disease patients compared to those without conditions. With this greater understanding of the impact of skin diseases, GPs have a better opportunity to help the millions of patients who seek their help.

View the project abstract on ROAR