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Skin Symptoms in Early Psychosis Linked to Higher Depression and Suicide Risk, Study Finds

Preliminary ECNP data point to a short-term association, with researchers urging replication before any clinical use.

Overview

  • Researchers analyzed 481 people during a first episode of psychosis and followed outcomes after four weeks of antipsychotic treatment.
  • Dermatological signs were present in 14.5% of participants overall, including 24% of females and 9.8% of males.
  • About 25% of patients with initial skin complaints reported suicidal thoughts or attempts at follow-up, compared with roughly 7% without skin issues.
  • The team proposes shared developmental origins and inflammatory pathways as possible explanations, though mechanisms remain unconfirmed.
  • Independent experts welcomed the signal but emphasized the need for replication in other cohorts, longer follow-up, and mechanistic studies before adopting this as a risk marker.