TY - JOUR
T1 - Skin picking disorder in university students
T2 - health correlates and gender differences
AU - Odlaug, Brian Lawrence
AU - Lust, Katherine
AU - Schreiber, Liana R N
AU - Christenson, Gary
AU - Derbyshire, Katherine
AU - Grant, Jon E
N1 - Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Objective: This study sought to examine the prevalence of skin picking disorder (SPD) in a university sample and assess associated physical and mental health correlates. Methods: A 54-item anonymous, voluntary survey was distributed via random email generation to a sample of 6000 university students. Current psychological and physical status was assessed, along with academic performance. Positive screens for SPD were determined based upon individuals meeting full proposed DSM-V criteria. Results: A total of 1916 participants (31.9%; mean age 22.7±5.1; 58.1% female) responded and were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of SPD was 4.2% (females=5.8%; males=2.0%). SPD was associated with significantly higher lifetime rates of affective, anxiety, eating, substance use and impulse control disorders. Men with SPD had significantly higher BMI ratings and perceived themselves as significantly less attractive to others while women had significantly higher depressive symptoms. Conclusion: SPD is common in both genders and is associated with significant mental and physical health detriments, including higher levels of stress, more psychiatric comorbidity and poorer perceived health. Academic institutions, clinicians and public health officials should be aware of the multimodal presentation of SPD and screen for it in primary care and dermatologic settings.
AB - Objective: This study sought to examine the prevalence of skin picking disorder (SPD) in a university sample and assess associated physical and mental health correlates. Methods: A 54-item anonymous, voluntary survey was distributed via random email generation to a sample of 6000 university students. Current psychological and physical status was assessed, along with academic performance. Positive screens for SPD were determined based upon individuals meeting full proposed DSM-V criteria. Results: A total of 1916 participants (31.9%; mean age 22.7±5.1; 58.1% female) responded and were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of SPD was 4.2% (females=5.8%; males=2.0%). SPD was associated with significantly higher lifetime rates of affective, anxiety, eating, substance use and impulse control disorders. Men with SPD had significantly higher BMI ratings and perceived themselves as significantly less attractive to others while women had significantly higher depressive symptoms. Conclusion: SPD is common in both genders and is associated with significant mental and physical health detriments, including higher levels of stress, more psychiatric comorbidity and poorer perceived health. Academic institutions, clinicians and public health officials should be aware of the multimodal presentation of SPD and screen for it in primary care and dermatologic settings.
U2 - 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.08.006
DO - 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.08.006
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23123103
SN - 0163-8343
VL - 35
SP - 168
EP - 173
JO - General Hospital Psychiatry
JF - General Hospital Psychiatry
IS - 2
ER -
