Correlation of catecholamine content and clinical influencing factors in depression among psoriasis patients: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE: Our study sought to investigate the clinical influencing factors of psoriasis patients with depression, and analyze whether the content of monoamine neurotransmitters in plasma was correlated with depression incidence among psoriasis patients. METHODS: Ninety patients with psoriasis and 40 healthy volunteers (aged from18 to 60) were recruited and interviewed with a piloted questionnaire in both groups to obtain relevant information. The catecholamine in plasma from the two groups was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: The mean Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and mean Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores of the psoriasis patients were higher than the control group. Dopamine content in the plasma was lower (comparing psoriasis patients without depression and the control group, and was negatively correlated with HAMD, AIS, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores in the psoriasis patients with depression. There was no significant difference in the epinephrine and norepinephrine contents in all groups. PASI scores were positively correlated with HAMD scores in psoriasis patients. The low dopamine content, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and high PASI scores were the risk factors for depression among the psoriasis patients. CONCLUSION: Psoriasis patients have a significantly higher risk of depression than healthy people, and higher PASI scores were linked to a higher incidence of depression. The dopamine levels of patients were influenced by both psoriasis and depression. The risk factors for depression in psoriasis patients are low dopamine levels in the plasma, severe skin lesions, and lower quality of life.