Quality of life and psychosocial aspects in Greek patients with psoriasis: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a common, long-term skin disease associated with highlevels of psychological distress and a considerable adverse impact onlife. The effects of psoriasis, beyond skin affliction, are seldomrecognized and often undertreated.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to evaluate the quality of life, anxiety anddepression, self-esteem and loneliness in patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

Eighty-four patients with psoriasis were enrolled in the study. Thequality of life, depression and anxiety, loneliness and self-esteem ofthe patient were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index,Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the UCLA loneliness Scale(UCLA-Version 3) and Rosenberg''s Self-esteem Scale, respectively.

RESULTS

The Dermatology Quality of Life Index score among psoriasis patients was12.61 ± 4.88. They had statistically significantly higherscores according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale -anxietysubscale (p=0.032)-compared with healthy volunteers. Moreover, astatistically significant difference was found between the two groupsconcerning the UCLA-scale (p=0.033) and RSES-scale (p<0.0001).Female patients presented with lower self-esteem than malepatients.

CONCLUSION

Psoriasis is a distressing, recurrent disorder that significantlyimpairs quality of life. Therefore, the recognition and futuremanagement of psoriasis may require the involvement ofmulti-disciplinary teams to manage the physical, psychological andsocial aspects of the condition, as is the case for systemic,long-term conditions.