High Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Emotional Distress in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Quality of life, which is impaired in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), is influenced by comorbid mental disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and spectrum of mental disorders and to determine levels of emotional distress in patients with CSU. One hundred patients with CSU were investigated for mental disorders (by specialized diagnostic interviews and psychometric instruments), levels of emotional distress (by the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Check List; SCL-90R GSI) and underlying causes of their urticaria (by dermatological assessment). Forty-eight percent of patients with CSU were diagnosed with one or more psychosomatic disorders; most c…