Skin picking in a non-clinical sample of young Polish adults. Prevalence and characteristics

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics of skin picking behaviors in a sample of young Polish adults.

Methods: Five hundred and thirty-four participants completed measurements of skin picking frequency and severity. They also retrospectively rated the intensity of affective states experienced before, during and after skin picking episodes.

Results: In total, 46.07% of the participants endorsed some forms of skin picking, and the prevalence of skin picking disorder (SPD) in the study sample amounted to 7.67%. The characteristics of skin picking episodes in young Polish adults were similar to those reported in previous studies conducted on different cultures. The results also showed that for the majority of individuals with skin picking, the intensity of particular emotions (i.e. fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, self-aversion, boredom, and sadness) decreased significantly in the period from before to after picking.

Conclusion: Larger community studies are needed to assess the SPD prevalence in Polish general population.