Use of a Digital Psychotherapeutic App to Reduce Symptom Burden in Dermatology Patients

Skin diseases, despite low mortality, significantly impair quality of life. This randomised controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of a digital toolkit comprising psychotherapeutic strategies in reducing QoL burden in patients with chronic inflammatory skin conditions. This toolkit is hosted on a mobile application and will be used by study participants randomised to the intervention arm over the 32 week study period.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with psoriasis, eczema or chronic urticaria diagnosed by a dermatologist * Aged 16 or older * Peak pruritus intensity of 4 or more on a 11-point numerical rating scale (0-10, with 10 representing worst itch) * Able to engage with a mobile application in the English language Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with active psychiatric symptoms (e.g. active suicidal ideation, psychosis, delusions) * Patients with unstable psychiatric condition, characterized by o Hospital inpatient admission for a psychiatric condition or initiation of a psychotropic medication in the prior 3 months * Patients with unstable dermatological condition, characterized by * Recent flare of the skin condition within the last 2 weeks, including diagnosis of a flare by a doctor, use of systemic steroids, oral antibiotics, wet wrap rescue therapy, oral antivirals, or increase in frequency of phototherapy or dose of systemic medications for the dermatological condition within the last 2 weeks OR * Any of the following within 3 months * inpatient admission for a dermatological condition * Initiation of phototherapy * Initiation of systemic therapy (conventional immunosuppressive agent, biologics, JAK inhibitors) within the last 3 months.