The psoriasis disability index in Chinese patients: contribution of clinical and psychological variables.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a description of medical and psychological aspects of Chinese psoriasis patients, and to examine the specific contribution of demographic, medical and psychological variables to the Psoriasis Disability Index.


METHODS
Ninety-three Chinese psoriasis patients underwent a clinical assessment using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and completed a questionnaire that included questions on demographic and medical data, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI).


RESULTS
Psoriasis patients with cosmetic involvement had higher levels of anxiety and depression and higher disability scores than those without cosmetic involvement. Thirty-four per cent of the patients reported a significant level of anxiety (HADS-anx. > 11). The clinical severity of psoriasis was not associated with psychological and PDI scores. Multiple regression analysis indicated that psychological variables were associated with PDI scores, and explained 30% of the variance. However, demographic and psoriasis severity variables explained only 6% of the variance.


CONCLUSIONS
Psoriasis patients suffer from anxiety and depression. Psychological factors are much stronger determinants of the PDI than demographic, disease related variables. Clinical management of the disease should consider both clinical and psychological factors.
Yang
Yong
Y
Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, and the National Skin Center, Singapore.
Koh
David
D
Khoo
Lawrence
L
Nyunt
Shwe Zin
SZ
Ng
Vivian
V
Goh
Chee Leok
CL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires