Cognitive Impairment in Inpatients with Prurigo Nodularis and Psychiatric Comorbidities

Giuseppe Lanza, Filomena Irene Ilaria Cosentino, Raffaele Ferri, Bartolo Lanuzza, Maddalena Siragusa, Mariangela Tripodi and Carmelo Schepis
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Giuseppe Lanza: Department of Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Filomena Irene Ilaria Cosentino: Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
Raffaele Ferri: Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
Bartolo Lanuzza: Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
Maddalena Siragusa: Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
Mariangela Tripodi: Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
Carmelo Schepis: Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-7

Abstract: Background: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic refractory itchy dermatosis. Although psychiatric comorbidity is known, research in cognitive impairment is lacking. We evaluated the occurrence and types of cognitive impairment in a series of inpatients with PN. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of all the patients with PN admitted to a referral neurological institute from September 2018 to March 2021. Any neurological and psychiatric disorder, along with neuroactive drugs taken, were concomitantly assessed. Results: A total of 16 patients with PN (median age: 70 years, two males) were selected from a total of 1806 hospital admissions. Most of them had a neurodegenerative cognitive disorder, from mild cognitive impairment (8) to Alzheimer’s disease (1), followed by mixed disorder (degenerative and vascular) in six and vascular dementia in one. Comorbid psychiatric diseases (anxiety and depression) were more common than either individual condition, followed by bipolar disorder, whereas two patients did not show psychiatric manifestations. Most patients were on combined treatment with benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment can be observed in PN. In addition to screening for psychiatric comorbidity and initiating appropriate treatment or referral, clinicians may also consider the presence of cognitive impairment in PN of both degenerative and vascular origin.

Keywords: itch; pruritus; chronic scratch lesions; psychiatric comorbidity; psychoactive drugs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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