[Particularities of psychiatric and dermatological comorbidity among medical students in Morocco: Multicenter study].

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with dermatological conditions and to study the peculiarities of comorbidity between psychiatric disorders and dermatological conditions among medical students in Morocco.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, descriptive, and analytical cross-sectional study over a period of 4 weeks during the month of February 2019.

RESULTS

Six hundred and five students from the seven faculties of medicine of Morocco were included. Dermatological conditions were present in 15.5% (94) of students, acne being the most common condition (10.7%), followed by psoriasis in 1.65% of students as well as urticaria in 1.65%. Psychiatric disorders were present in 28% (168) of the students depression being the most common disorder (10.4%), followed by anxiety disorders (7.8%), comorbidity between depression and anxiety disorder (6.94%), and psychotic disorders (2.46%). Dermatological diseases were significantly and independently associated with the presence of a psychiatric disorder (0.0000) and marital status (P=0.0103). Suicide attempts and substance use are more common among medical students who have an association between psychiatric disorder and dermatological pathology compared to students with isolated dermatological conditions or students with isolated psychiatric disorders.

CONCLUSION

Dermatological and psychiatric conditions are frequent and underestimated among medical students in Morocco. Dermatologic and psychiatric comorbidity is associated with a higher prevalence of psychoactive substance use and suicide attempts.