The psychiatry specialist indicates that people with the condition are more likely to suffer from these disorders.
Dr. John Sánchez, assigned to the Department of Psychiatry of the Medical Sciences Campus. Photo: Journal of Medicine and Public Health.
The hidradenitis Suppurative is a chronic disease that causes pain in patients, in addition to suppurations, discomfort and inflammation, generating different limitations for the normal development of daily life.
According to Dr John Sanchezattached to the Department of Psychiatry of the Medical Sciences Campusnot only affects the physical health of the patient, but also impacts their emotional and psychological health, reducing their quality of life and increasing the risk of suffering from different mental disorders.
“There are symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, but following the diagnostic criteria, with the evaluation of a psychologist or psychiatrist, there are clinical disorders that patients may present, beyond the symptoms,” he stated during the symposium ‘Awareness of Hidradenitis Suppurative’ led by the Journal of Medicine and Public Health.
In this regard, he explained that there is an increased risk of substance use disorders, alcohol use, depression, and anxiety. As well as an increase in suicidal risk up to two times higher in patients with hidradenitiswhich leads to the need for multidisciplinary treatment by doctors.
Aspects that influence mental health
“As happens in mental health, we try to conceptualize a particular clinical case, using the biopsychosocial model or perspective, where we try to take into account the biological, psychological and social aspects that influence the patient,” he said.
The biological aspects include genetics, family history, current health conditions and the use of substances that affect the biological part. On the other hand, the psychological factor is related to what he calls “coping techniques, personal development, parenting and defense mechanism”.
Finally, there is the social part that includes the environment in which the patient develops, the factors that can be stressors, work, education, interpersonal relationships and the family environment. For Dr. Sánchez, it is important to analyze all these areas in order to guide the patient’s mental health treatment.
Factors that affect a patient with Hidradenitis
Biological: chronic pain
One of the biological triggers of a mental health problem is pain, which is very characteristic of the condition. “The hidradenitis suppurative often goes unnoticed, it is a pain condition that if not well managed in the long term can become chronic pain” explains the doctor.
In turn, it indicates that chronic pain can occur because the treatments or medications that were usually effective to treat it stop working, and for the patient it is key to reduce their sensation of pain, so they can start using another type of substances, such as opioids, including “the element of self-medication, which can precipitate the risk of a disorder.
Likewise, the stage or severity of the disease influences the patient’s perception of their condition. In this regard, the specialist explains that “the factor is associated with the development of depression, anxiety or any disorder mentioned, because there may be a disconnection between what is reality and what the patient observes.”
According to the above, the use of drugs for treatment, whether primary medicine or psychiatry, can generate side effects on the skin, presenting skin manifestations, or fluctuations in weight, which alters the patient’s perception.
Psychological: insecurities
The main psychological factors analyzed by mental health professionals are: coping mechanisms, insecurities, self-image, history of trauma and loss related to life. hidradenitis suppurative
Regarding coping mechanisms, Dr. Sánchez states that “what has been observed in patients with HS, (due to particular experiences of coping with different situations), is the risk of using avoidant coping patterns, such as social isolation” .
These behaviors are evidenced when patients stop attending social gatherings, family activities or avoid being in environments that generate discomfort. For the specialist, this type of coping pattern is called avoidant and what it does is reinforce fears, anxieties and negative thoughts.
“Broadly speaking, you have to face these possible fears; these processes are something that takes place little by little, as well as the factor of insecurities and the alteration of the perception of the body,” he added.
Also, there are traumas, which do not refer precisely to situations of abuse, but moments that can be common and generate shame or embarrassment in the patient, in the environment where he operates. For Dr. Sánchez, that can become a psychological problem.
And finally, within the psychological factors are the losses; of independence in the social, economic, labor and emotional.
Social: isolation
Many patients with hidradenitis They state that day by day they fight against the stigma of their condition, “there is still a very big stigma in seeking treatment and knowing more about the importance of mental health, since the disease requires people to face all kinds of situations that can generate shame,” he added.
Given this, the resident of the Department of Psychiatry of the Medical Sciences Campus recommends that patients seek treatment, consult with the specialist on how to control the odor, because “we know that it is a different additional element in a dermatological condition, and it can cause a lot of anguish”, as well as asking for a mental health professional and documenting yourself with support groups, since that contributes to mental health.
“The management of mental health conditions is going to help the most complete management of the hidradenitis suppurative” he stated.
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