02410nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001653001100042653001100053653002000064653001800084653001700102653002500119653001500144653002100159653001200180100001800192700001600210700001500226700001500241700001200256700001400268245007800282856003300360300001000393490000600403520171100409       2017                            d10aStress10aStigma10aSocial distress10aSkin Diseases10aSaudi Arabia10aPsychological impact10aDepression10aChronic diseases10aAnxiety1 aAl-Wasiyah BM1 aAlzahrani N1 aAlenazi RH1 aAlHarbi SK1 aTayeb H1 aKokandi A00aPsychological impacts of skin diseases in comparison to chronic diseases.  uhttps://tinyurl.com/y7v7q3lo  a58-610 v33 a<p><strong>Background: </strong>Suffering from skin diseases is more than a cosmetic nuisance. Patients with chronic skin diseases often experience significant psychological and social distress and fear of stigma. The aim of this study was to determine the psychological impact (depression, anxiety and stress) of skin diseases in comparison to chronic diseases among patients at an academic tertiary healthcare centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. <strong>Methods</strong>: A cross sectional study involving 125 patients with chronic skin-related disorders recruited from the dermatology clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) and 100 patients with non-skin-related chronic disease were recruited from the medical, surgical and day care clinics at KAUH using the self-administered Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) Arabic questionnaire. <strong>Results</strong>: There was no significant difference in the level of depression, anxiety and stress in the group of subjects with skin diseases in comparison to the group with chronic diseases. However, subjects who have chronic disease were more likely to have severe and extremely severe stress compared to those who have skin disease when the levels of depression, anxiety and depression were categorized into normal, mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe levels. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: The association of depression, anxiety and stress in skin diseases are similar to chronic diseases. Subjects who have chronic disease were more likely to have severe and extremely severe stress compared to those who have skin disease. Patients with skin diseases need to be assessed regarding the psychological impact of their diseases.</p>