WEDNESDAY, July 30, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have an increased risk for new-onset depression and anxiety, according to a study published online July 30 in JAMA Dermatology.

Nikolaj Holgersen, M.D., from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues examined the risk for new-onset and recurrent depression and anxiety among patients with HS and the association with disease severity in a population-based cohort study from 1997 to 2022. Danish patients with HS were age- and sex-matched to individuals without HS from Danish national registries in a 1:4 ratio. Data were included for 10,206 patients with HS and 40,125 controls.

Throughout the study period, 12.0, 55.5, 6.5, and 25.9 percent of patients with HS received topical only, systemic nonbiologic, biologic, and no HS-related treatments, respectively. The researchers found that the adjusted hazard ratios for new-onset depression and new-onset anxiety were 1.69 and 1.48, respectively. After stratification for treatment, the hazard ratios for either depression or anxiety were 1.62, 1.61, and 1.38 for topicals, systemic nonbiologics, and biologics, respectively. The hazard ratios were 1.44, 1.66, 1.59, and 1.60 for zero, one, two, or three or more hospitalizations for HS-related procedures, respectively. Compared with controls, more patients with HS had a history of depression and anxiety; however, there was no difference seen in the risk for recurrent depression or anxiety.

"This finding emphasizes that depression and anxiety may occur independent of disease severity, and clinicians should be aware of mental disorders across all severity stages and approach these patients in a multidisciplinary setting," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text