The psycho-emotional impact of patients with autoimmune bullous dermatoses
The psycho-emotional impact of patients with autoimmune bullous dermatoses

Summary/Abstract: Autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBDs) are a group of disorders characterized by autoantibodies directed against structural proteins present in the desmosome and hemidesmosome of the skin and mucosal membranes. The AIBDs include various forms of pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, dermatitis herpetiformis. Blistering lesions have a substantial psycho-emotional effect for patients and evoke strong negative emotions, troublesome symptoms, and impaired social and professional functioning Treatment can also affect the quality of life of patients with AIBDs. For example, the steroids and immunosuppressive agents used to control AIBDs may cause serious adverse effects. Treatment with corticosteroids may cause multiple iatrogenic psychiatric disorders: anxiety and depressive disorders, psychotic disorders, even suicidal ideation. It is thus of great importance to pay considerable attention to the patients' psycho-emotional impact as well as clinical status.

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