Living with Psoriasis: Prevalence of Shame, Anger, Worry, and Problems in Daily Activities and Social Life

Segnaliamo un articolo pubblicato su Acta Derm Venereol 2012; 92: 299–303, che analizza in pazienti affetti da psoriasi l’impatto della malattia sulla qualità di vita, la prevalenza delle manifestazioni psico-emotive e le limitazioni socio-relazionali.

Psychosocial problems are frequent among patients with psoriasis. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of some specific psychosocial issues.
These were evaluated in 936 patients using the emotions and functioning scales of the Skindex-29 questionnaire. The problems most frequently experienced were: shame, anger, worry, difficulties in daily activities and social life. All problems were associated with the severity of psoriasis and with depression or anxiety. Shame, worry and annoyance were more frequent in women than in men, and shame and anger were associated with a low level of education. Impairment in work/hobbies was significantlyhigher in patients with palmoplantar psoriasis andthose with arthro­pathic psoriasis.
In conclusion, clinicians could gain important insights about their patients by looking at the single items of a quality of life instrument, to identify patients with high levels of emotional and social problems, in order to improve quality of care.​