Treating More Than Wounds: Paper Calls for Mental Health Care in ASD Cases

Artefactual skin disorder (ASD) can leave patients with severe, self-inflicted wounds they may deny causing, making diagnosis and treatment complex for physicians. Cedarville University pharmacy student Thurein Zan collaborated with medical students in Germany and Poland on research outlining a holistic approach that addresses both skin and mental health.

ASD, formerly known as dermatitis artefacta, is characterized by self-inflicted scars and lesions often resulting from cutting, burning, scratching, injections or chemical applications.

Recognizing the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges surrounding the disorder, Zan and his colleagues examined treatment options designed to care for patients with ASD - not just healing their bodies but also addressing underlying mental health needs. Their work was published in "Dermatology Review," a respected, peer-reviewed medical journal in Poland.