Joint Consultation by a Psychiatrist and a Dermatologist

Background: For one year now, there has been a joint psychodermatologic consultation service in the department of dermatology at the University Hospital of Brest, France. A dermatologist and a psychiatrist have associated to meet outpatients with psychiatric or psychological and dermatological disorders: dermatoses modulated by psychologic factors, psychologic disorders induced by skin disorders or psychiatric disorders with a cutaneous manifestation. The consultation is not only multidisciplinary but really a joint consultation implying constant close cooperation of and exchange between the two therapists. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychiatric and dermatological diagnoses which were observed in these patients. Patients: 50 new patients were seen within one year. Only 23 underwent two or more consultations. 58% of outpatients were women and 42% men. 50% were 30–50 years old and 25% were children or teenagers. There was a large diversity in the dermatological and psychiatric diseases found as well as in the pattern of association between psychologic and skin disorders. Discussion: The number of patients was too small to draw epidemiological conclusions. Nonetheless, the aims of such a consultation seem to be reached. It allows diagnoses and treatments of psychiatric disorders in patients who otherwise would only have been treated for their somatic disorders but who are also suffering from a psychic disorder. The concomitant presence of a dermatologist and a psychiatrist appears important to symbolize the association of body and psyche and is comforting for the patients.