title: [Suicidal behavior in dermatology].
abstract: Even in dermatology one can potentially encounter suicidal patients. A risk of suicide can be preexisting, appear as complication of skin disorders or be triggered by medications such as interferons. Patients at risk must be specifically asked about suicidal ideations and tendencies. Acute suicide risk requires immediate crisis intervention. In dermatology suicide risk has been described in severe acne conglobata (especially men) and metastatic melanoma. Patients with chronic or potentially fatal disease or severe pain may be suicidal. In addition patients with depression, alcohol dependency, substance abuse, schizophrenia or borderline personality disorder are at special risk. We review psychodermatological diseases with risk of suicide and point out treatment strategies. More attention should be focused on the early recognition of a possible risk of suicide in dermatology patients.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie und Phlebologie, Vivantes Klinikum, Berlin Friedrichshain, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Landsberger Allee 49, 10249 Berlin. wolfgang.harth@vivantes.de
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Harth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hillert
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hermes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seikowski
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Niemeier
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Freudenmann
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000523:psychology; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000523:psychology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016898:Interferon-alpha