Psoriasis vulgaris does not adversely influence the quality of sleep.
OBJECTIVE
Sleep could be severely affected in psoriasis because of skin symptoms and psychological repercussions of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of psoriasis on sleep.


METHODS
A total of 202 patients with psoriasis and 202 healthy volunteers have completed a self-rated questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, which assesses sleep quality and disturbances over a 1-month time interval. The severity of the dermatoses has been evaluated utilizing the PASI score.


RESULTS
In psoriatic patients the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index resulted between 0 and 17 (5.56±3.93), in the controls between 0 and 18 (5.13±4.16). No statistically significant correlation was observed between the score of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and PASI. The anti-psoriatic therapy, while causing a marked improvement of lesions and itching, does not affect the quality of sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
Although literature indicated that psoriasis negatively affects the quality of sleep, in this study this correlation was not observed.
Institute of Dermatology Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine University of Udine, Udine, Italy - giuseppe.stinco@uniud.it.
G
G
Stinco
G
G
Trevisan
F
F
Piccirillo
N
N
Di Meo
K
K
Nan
L
L
Deroma
S
S
Bergamo
P
P
Patrone
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods; D011537:Pruritus / Q000523:psychology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents