title: Perceived stress, stress attributions and psychological distress in psoriasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to measure causal beliefs in individuals with psoriasis and to explore their relationship with perceived stress, quality of life, psychological well-being and psoriasis severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was cross-sectional in design, and patients were required to complete validated questionnaires assessing perceptions of illness, quality of life, psoriasis severity, perceived stress and psychological mood. A total of 141 individuals were recruited from two settings: an outpatient skin clinic at King's College Hospital and the Psoriasis Association.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A strong belief in stress/psychological attributes as a causal factor was found in 61% of the sample. This belief was significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression and perceived stress (r > or = .38; P < or = .0001). Perceived stress in this sample was significantly associated with a poorer level of quality of life, higher levels of anxiety and depression (r > or = .27; P < or = .002) but not with psoriasis severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The belief that stress is causal was associated with lower levels of psychological well-being. However, there was no association between perceived stress and more objective measures of psoriasis severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, DeCrespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Creamer
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weinman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological