Sex differences in the association between depressive symptoms and psoriasis

Psoriasis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory skin condition that is also classified as an autoimmune disorder. There is an established interplay between autoimmune diseases and mental health issues, particularly depression. Consequently, this study aims to explore the association between depression and psoriasis. This cross-sectional study examined data from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2014. Depression information was gathered through the patient health questionnaire Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Weighted logic was applied to investigate the correlation between depression and psoriasis. In addition, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate potential interactions. Out of the total 15,863 patients enrolled in the study, out of which 438 had a prior diagnosis of psoriasis. Weighted logistic regression analysis showed a direct relationship between the PHQ-9 result and psoriasis. Moreover, the occurrence of psoriasis was more prevalent among males compared to females in the case of depression. The restricted cubic spline curve demonstrated a positive linear correlation between psoriasis and depression, showing a turning point at 2. A subgroup examination was performed and revealed a connection between gender and depression. A significant positive relationship exists between the increase in PHQ-9 depression scores and the increased likelihood of having psoriasis, which varies among different genders.