title: Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Saudi Arabian Dermatology Patients: Cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among Saudi Arabian dermatology patients and to assess associations with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 consecutive dermatology patients visiting King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in August 2015. The Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale was used to screen for symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 254 dermatology patients participated in the study (response rate: 84.7%). The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was 12.6%, 22.1% and 7.5%, respectively. The presence of at least one of these negative emotional states was noted among 24.4% of the cohort (95% confidence interval: 19.3-30.2%). Depression was significantly higher among subjects who lacked family support (26.5% versus 10.7%; P = 0.006) while anxiety was less common among patients who engaged in physical exercise (14.5% versus 29.4%; P = 0.005). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, poor QOL and a lack of family support were significant predictors of a negative emotional state.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost a quarter of the studied Saudi Arabian dermatology patients were found to suffer from at least one negative emotional state. A lack of family support and poor QOL were the primary factors associated with a negative emotional state. Interventional studies are needed to examine the effects of social and family support on psychological conditions among Saudi Arabian dermatology patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, College of Public Health & Health Informatics, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
authors.forename: Anwar E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
authors.forename: Abdulaziz M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Dahmash
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
authors.forename: Qamra T
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Al-Boqami
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yazeed F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Al-Tebainawi
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Dermatology; Psychological Stress; Quality of Life; Saudi Arabia; Social Support