Itch, disease coping strategies and quality of life in psoriasis patients.
BACKGROUND
Psoriasis is a psychodermatological condition, so psychological factors can trigger and/or exacerbate skin lesions. Additionally, disease can be a source of stress and can worsen patients' quality of life (QoL).


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between medical (disease severity, itch) and psychological variables (disease coping strategies, QoL) in the psoriasis patients group.


METHODS
The study comprises 60 in-patients of the dermatological ward (30 females and 30 males) with the diagnosis of psoriasis.


METHODS
Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Itch Severity Evaluation Questionnaire, Coping with Skin Disease Scale-SRS-DER, SKINDEX-29 questionnaire.


RESULTS
The study demonstrated significant correlations between disease coping strategies, itch and quality of life. Women presented worse QoL (generally and in physical functioning). The older patients with a longer disease duration revealed QoL impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
The obtained results could help in identifying patients risk groups which are in the highest danger of decreased QoL. Our data indicate the need for psychological interventions.
Department of Psychodermatology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Anna Zalewska-Janowska MD, PhD.
Alicja
A
Ograczyk
Institute of Psychology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Eleonora Bielawska-Batorowicz PhD.
Joanna
J
Miniszewska
Department of Psychodermatology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Anna Zalewska-Janowska MD, PhD.
Anna
A
Kępska
Department of Psychodermatology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Anna Zalewska-Janowska MD, PhD.
Anna
A
Zalewska-Janowska
itch; psoriasis; psychodermatology; quality of life