title: Itch intensity evaluated in the German Atopic Dermatitis Intervention Study (GADIS): correlations with quality of life, coping behaviour and SCORAD severity in 823 children.
abstract: The German Atopic Dermatitis Intervention Study (GADIS), which includes 823 children and adolescents, showed that age-related educational programmes are effective in the long-term management of atopic dermatitis. We investigated whether the itch severity obtained in the scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) correlates with quality of life and coping behaviour in children and parents. There were significant but low correlations between the severity of atopic dermatitis and the itch intensity. Itch and sleeplessness were significantly correlated. Significant correlations of itch with the coping behaviour and quality of life in parents of children with atopic dermatitis were measured. The coping and itching behaviour of children (8-12 years) and adolescents (13-18 years) had higher significant correlations with the itch compared with the parents' answers. Quality of life in children (8-12 years) and adolescents (13-18 years) showed a significant negative correlation with itch intensity. Quality of life, itch intensity and coping strategies should be considered when treating patients with atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. elke.weisshaar@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weisshaar
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Diepgen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bruckner
authors.forename: Manigé
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fartasch
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kupfer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lob-Corzilius
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scheewe
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scheidt
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmid-Ott
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schnopp
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staab
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szcepanski
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Werfel
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wittenmeier
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wahn
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gieler
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires