HS Linked to Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder Risk

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is associated with increased risk of mental health disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to the results of a recent study.

The researchers conducted a nationwide retrospective study including 4381 patients with HS and 39,554 psoriasis and 43248 melanocytic nevi patients as controls. Incidence of HS was 2.7 per 100,000 person years.
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Overall, at least 1 psychiatric diagnosis was reported in 24.1% of patients with HS, compared with 19.1% of those with psoriasis (odds ratio [OR] 1.34 and 13.5% of those with melanocytic nevi (OR 2.04). Mental health disorders were more common in women with HS than in men.

“The main finding of our study is that HS patients have a higher risk for mental disorders than patients with psoriasis. Additionally, this study reveals that HS is associated with both schizophrenia (OR 1.57; CI 1.24-1.98) and bipolar disorder (OR 1.81; CI 1.47-2.23), findings which to our knowledge have not been reported previously,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Huilaja L, Tiri H, Jokelainen J, et al. Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa have a high psychiatric disease burden: A Finnish nationwide registry study [published online July 20, 2017]. J Invest Dermatol. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.06.020.