Sensory processing patterns in adolescents with skin picking disorder: Case–control study

Hande Günal Okumuş; Makbule Esen Öksüzoğlu; Hilal Subaşı; Ayşe Selma Yenen Menderes; Nazlı Merve Korkmaz; İsranur Yenen Sivri; Yusuf Selman Çelik; Meryem Kaşak

doi:10.26900/hsq.3100

Authors

Hande Günal Okumuş Uşak Training and Research Hospital / Türkiye 0000-0002-0091-6604
Makbule Esen Öksüzoğlu Kastamonu University / Türkiye 0000-0001-7338-5114
Hilal Subaşı Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl City Hospital / Türkiye 0000-0002-3811-2724
Ayşe Selma Yenen Menderes Muğla Training and Research Hospital / Türkiye 0000-0002-1106-5809
Nazlı Merve Korkmaz Kızıltepe State Hospital / Türkiye 0009-0003-7770-6861
İsranur Yenen Sivri Osmaniye State Hospital / Türkiye 0000-0001-9978-0390
Yusuf Selman Çelik Ankara Etlik City Hospital / Türkiye 0000-0002-1131-2814
Meryem Kaşak Ankara Etlik City Hospital / Türkiye 0000-0003-0176-868X

10.26900/hsq.3100

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate sensory processing profiles in adolescents diagnosed with Skin Picking Disorder (SPD) and compare them with healthy controls. Eighty-eight adolescents aged 12–18 years, including 45 with SPD and 43 healthy controls, completed the Dunn Sensory Profile (DSP), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and Generic Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior Scale–8 (GBS-8), and clinician-rated severity was assessed using the Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI-S). Compared with controls, adolescents with SPD exhibited significantly higher DSP total scores (160.8±34.8 vs. 107.3±25.0; p<.001) and higher scores across all four Dunn sensory patterns, including low registration, sensory sensitivity, sensory avoidance (p<.001), as well as sensation seeking (p=.003). The SPD group also showed markedly higher Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) severity (GBS-8 total: 16.8±5.4 vs. 0.8±1.8; p<.001) and greater psychological distress (BSI global indices; all p<.001). Within the SPD group, DSP total scores correlated strongly with SPD severity and psychological distress (e.g., GBS-8 total p=.77; BSI-GSI p=.82). In hierarchical logistic regression, BSI–PSDI and low sensory registration remained significantly associated with SPD status after adjustment for age, sex, and family psychiatric history. Sensory processing abnormalities, particularly in registration and sensitivity dimensions, may be clinically relevant features of adolescent SPD. These findings support incorporating sensory-profile assessment and considering sensory-informed strategies as adjuncts in the clinical management of SPD.

Keywords:

Skin picking disorder excoriation disorder sensory processing Dunn Sensory Profile body-focused repetitive behaviors

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