title: Quality of life of patients with neurodermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurodermatitis is a common chronic skin disease. Although not life-threatening, it can produce an important psychosocial burden, sleep disturbance and sexual dysfunction. Patients with neurodermatitis tend to have poor social skills or interpersonal resources and a lack of flexibility. However quality of life (QoL) of patients with neurodermatitis has seldom investigated. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of neurodermatitis on patients' QoL using the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire, and assess its feasibility and internal consistency.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty consecutive outpatients seeking treatment for neurodermatitis and 250 patients with psoriasis in the Department of Dermatology, the Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, were assessed for eligibility for this prospective study from July 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011. Demographic data and disease-related characteristics were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean DLQI score for neurodermatits (9.34) was lower than that for psoriasis (13.32) (P < 0.001). Patients with neurodermatitis scored significantly lower for all items except Q1 (symptoms) and Q9 (sexual difficulties). No strong relationship between disease-related characteristics and quality of life could be found. The inter-item correlation averaged 0.415 and Cronbach's alpha was 0.889, indicating high internal consistency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to attempt to measure the impact of neurodermatitis for both male and female patients on QoL. Neurodermatitis moderately affected the QoL of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China 710004. anjg2008@126.com
authors.forename: Jin-Gang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Yan-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sheng-Xiang
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jun-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Song-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Ying-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009450:Neurodermatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: dermatology Life Quality Index.; neurodermatitis; psoriasis; quality of life