title: Quality of life in patients with psoriasis and psoriasis arthritis with a special focus on stigmatization experience.
abstract: Negative impact of psoriasis and psoriasis arthritis on quality of life is a central consequence of these diseases. Feelings of stigmatization might, for example, already emerge with only small patches of skin being affected. Empirical data indicate that treating dermatologists should address possible negative effects elicited by problematic encounters with the public and in sexual relationships even if the severity of the disease is low, because lesions on invisible parts of the body can already cause serious adverse impairment. Such psychosocial consequences can be reduced by attending a self-help organization and by taking part in an interdisciplinary patient education program led by dermatologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Hanover Medical School, D-30625 Hanover, Germany. schmid-ott.gerhard@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmid-Ott
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schallmayer
authors.forename: Iris Tatjana
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Calliess
mesh_terms: D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires