Internalized stigma in psoriasis: A multicenter study |
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Authors: | Erkan Alpsoy Mualla Polat Bilge FettahlıoGlu‐Karaman Ayse Serap Karadag Pelin Kartal‐Durmazlar Basak YalCın Selma Emre Didem Didar‐Balcı Asli Bilgic‐Temel Ercan Arca Rafet Koca Kamer Gunduz Murat Borlu Tulin Ergun Seval Dogruk‐Kacar Ayca Cordan‐Yazici Pınar Dursun Ozlem BilgiC Serap Gunes‐Bilgili Neslihan Sendur Ozge Baysal Ibrahim Halil‐Yavuz Gizem Yagcioglu Ertan Yilmaz Ufuk Kavuzlu Yesim Senol |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey;2. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Abant Izzet Baysal University School of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey;3. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Cukurova University School of Medicine, Adana, Turkey;4. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Istanbul Medeniyet University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey;5. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Ministry of Health Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;6. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;7. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Yildirim Beyazit University Ankara Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;8. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey;9. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey;10. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, School of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey;11. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey;12. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey;13. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey;14. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyon, Turkey;15. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey;16. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Mersin State Hospital, Mersin, Turkey;17. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Selcuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey;18. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, School of Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey;19. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, School of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey;20. Department of Psychiatry, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey;21. Department of Medical Education, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey |
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Abstract: | Internalized stigma is the adoption of negative attitudes and stereotypes of the society regarding a person's illness. It causes decreased self‐esteem and life‐satisfaction, increased depression and suicidality, and difficulty in coping with the illness. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the internalized stigma state of psoriatic patients and to identify the factors influencing internalized stigma. The secondary aim was to identify the correlation of internalized stigma with quality of life and perceived health status. This multicentre, cross‐sectional study comprised 1485 patients. There was a significant positive correlation between mean values of Psoriasis Internalized Stigma Scale (PISS) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, Body Surface Area, Dermatological Life Quality Index and General Health Questionnaire‐12 (P < 0.001 in all). Lower percieved health score (P = 0.001), early onset psoriasis (P = 0.016), family history of psoriasis (P = 0.0034), being illiterate (P < 0.001) and lower income level (P < 0.001) were determinants of high PISS scores. Mean PISS values were higher in erythrodermic and generalized pustular psoriasis. Involvement of scalp, face, hand, genitalia and finger nails as well as arthropathic and inverse psoriasis were also related to significantly higher PISS scores (P = 0.001). Our findings imply that psoriatic patients experience high levels of internalized stigma which are associated with psoriasis severity, involvement of visible body parts, genital area, folds or joints, poorer quality of life, negative perceptions of general health and psychological illnesses. Therefore, internalized stigma may be one of the major factors responsible from psychosocial burden of the disease. |
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Keywords: | Dermatology Quality of Life Index General Health Questionnaire‐12 internalized stigma psoriasis Psoriasis Internalized Stigma Scale |
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