Granulomatous slack skin: clinical characteristics, prognosis and response to therapy. A study from the Cutaneous Lymphoma French Study Group

Abstract

A decrease in the psychological burden of HS may improve QoL, although we did not test this. While dermatologists and healthcare providers treating HS can manage psychological aspects of the disease, most lack formal training in psychiatric diagnoses and psychopharmacology. Moreover, patients often refuse psychiatric referral. 7 Screening for psychiatric comorbidities and traits, such as the tendency towards having social anxiety, may help implement effective nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions. 7 Thus, a multipronged approach to HS treatment, involving both pharmacological and psychosocial interventions, may help decrease HS burden and improve QoL. The use of online support groups may also provide an accessible and effective intervention for patients with HS. 8 One limitation of the study was its sample size; however, the study was sufficiently powered to find statistically significant differences, indicative of the large effect size that the tendency towards social anxiety has on patients' lives. While there were nonresponders, the comparable demographics of respondents and nonrespondents contribute to the generalizability of the findings.