title: Excoriation (skin picking) disorder in Israeli University students: prevalence and associated mental health correlates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of excoriation (skin picking) disorder (SPD) and associated physical and mental health correlates in a sample of Israeli university students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five thousand Israeli students were given questionnaires screening for SPD, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and disruptive, impulse control and conduct disorders. A total of 2176 participants (43.6%) responded and were included in the analysis. Mean age was 25.1 ± 4.8 (range 17-60) years, and 64.3% were female.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of students who were screened positive for SPD was 3.03%, with a nearly equal gender distribution (3.0% in females and 3.1% in males). There was a trend toward significantly higher rates of psychiatric problems such as generalized anxiety, compulsive sexual behavior and eating disorders in these students. Within the group of students screening positive for SPD, alcohol intake was higher in male students, while female students perceived themselves as less attractive. No association was found between depression and SPD. A high prevalence rate of skin picking was found within first-degree family members of the participants screening positive for SPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians and public health officials within university settings should screen for SPD as it is common and associated with psychosocial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: vleibovici@hadassah.org.il.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leibovici
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services of Talbia Psychiatric Clinic, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Rena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooper-Kazaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tetro
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Keuthen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hadayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Tali
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Czarnowicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Odlaug
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Comorbidity; Health correlates; Prevalence; Skin picking disorder; University students