Atopic dermatitis is associated with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, but not with psychiatric hospitalization or suicide

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Atopic dermatitis (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content>) has been linked with psychiatric disease in adults. However, the exact relationship and its consequences have been insufficiently studied. Our aim of this study was to assess the association between depression, anxiety, and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content> in adults and examine the risk of hospitalization and suicide.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>We utilized questionnaire data from a large general population study with data on social habits and psychiatric symptoms to compare prevalences of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and anxiety attacks, in adults with and without a history of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content>. Additionally, we used nationwide hospital/clinic registry and prescription data to examine the risk of anxiety and depression in Danish adults with mild and moderate‐severe <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content>, as well as the risk of hospitalization and suicide.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>In the general population study, those with <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content> reported clinician‐diagnosed depression and anxiety more often than non‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content> subjects, and had an increased prevalence of suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. In the health registry study, moderate‐severe <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content> patients had increased risk of antidepressant and anxiolytic medication use, while patients with mild <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content> only had increased risk of anxiolytic medication use. There was no increased risk of hospitalization or outpatient contacts due to depression or anxiety, or risk of suicide in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content> patients.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are more common among <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">AD</jats:styled-content> individuals, but do not lead to psychiatric consultations, hospitalization, or suicide.</jats:p></jats:sec>