Atopic dermatitis (AD) patients are more than a third more likely to report suicidal ideation and make suicide attempts, according to a meta-analysis in JAMA Dermatology.

Involving 310,681 AD patients and 4,460,086 controls, the meta-analysis showed that AD patients were 44 per cent more likely to exhibit suicidal ideation and 36 per cent more likely to attempt suicide compared with controls.

Studies investigating whether AD patients completed more suicides produced inconsistent results. The authors suggest screening for suicidality and referring when necessary.