Psychosocial factors and chronic spontaneous urticaria: a systematic review

Background: Psychosocial factors have been informally associated with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU); however, the relationship between psychosocial factors and CSU remains relatively unexplored in the scientific literature.

Objective: This review aims to provide an evaluation of peer reviewed studies exploring psychosocial factors and CSU.

Methods: A systematic search was performed over four databases identifying studies exploring psychosocial factors in relation to CSU published between the years 1995 and 2022.

Results: Eighteen studies were included for narrative analysis, and 33 psychosocial factors were identified. These were split into two subgroups: psychosocial factors that were associated with CSU symptoms aggravation/onset (n = 20), and psychosocial factors expected to be impacted by CSU symptoms (n = 13).

Conclusion: This review has highlighted a need for more research and interventions to support individuals with psychosocial factors involved in CSU.