The association between irritant contact dermatitis of hand and obsessive compulsive disorder in women: a case control study

Irritant contact dermatitis of hands is a chronic and recurrent cutaneous disorder following the contact with detergents and chemicals. Obsessive compulsive disorder is highly frequent among dermatologic patients, and may be presented with signs of irritant contact dermatitis of hands. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and relationship between obsessive compulsive disorder and irritant contact dermatitis, among women with chronic and recurrent irritant contact of hands dermatitis in Haj Daie Dermatology Clinic in Kermanshah. This case-control analytic study was carried out on 139 females with irritant contact dermatitis of hands and 102 female patients without any history of irritant contact dermatitis of hands. Obsessive compulsive disorder was determined based on the clinical interview using DSM-IV-TR (SCID) by a psychiatrist. Data analysis was performed using chi-square and z-test. The mean age in the case group was 28.2±8.4 and in the control group was 28.4±6.3 years. Fifty-eight (41.7%) of hand dermatitis patients and 5 (4.9%) of control group had obsessive compulsive disorder (P<0.05). Obsessive compulsive disorder was seen in 29 and 14 patients with moderate and severe irritant contact dermatitis, respectively. Obsessive compulsive disorder is common in irritant contact dermatitis of hands. Psychiatric evaluation in female patients with chronic irritant contact dermatitis of hands especially moderate and severe forms is suggested.