The Role of Psychiatry and Psychology Collaboration in Pediatric Dermatology

The Role of Psychiatry and Psychology Collaboration in Pediatric Dermatology Michael Perry and William C. Streusand Psychiatric issues inherently accompany dermatologic disease in children and adolescents. With body image issues being of paramount importance to adolescents, perceived flaws may be accompanied by depression, anxiety, or loss of usual functioning. Children and adolescents also often have difficulties with treatment compliance. Often medical professionals separate symptoms into physical versus psychosomatic. This differentiation is not a useful dichotomy, and interventions should be aimed at both physical and emotional needs simultaneously. A collaborative team approach with both dermatologist and psychiatrist/psychologist addressing physical and emotional symptoms is therefore favored for desirable results.