title: A multicenter, non-interventional study to evaluate patient-reported experiences of living with psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (with or without psoriatic arthritis) places significant burden on patients' lives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Explore and document patients' experiences of living with psoriasis, including symptoms, treatments, impact on daily lives and patient-reported functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a US-based, non-interventional study, narrative interviews were conducted at baseline and again within 16 weeks. In interviews, patients with moderate to severe psoriasis indicated symptoms, ranked symptoms according to level of bother and indicated areas of their lives affected by psoriasis. Transcripts of interviews were coded for themes. Measurements of psoriasis severity including BSA, PGA and PASI were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms reported most frequently included flaking/scaling (non-scalp areas), itching/scratching and rash, while the most bothersome symptoms were itching/scratching, flaking/scaling (non-scalp areas) and skin pain. Frequently reported impact areas were social and emotional.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Broad-reaching interviews with patients with psoriasis show that these patients suffer in many aspects of their lives and in ways not indicated by typical psoriasis severity measures. Patients with psoriatic arthritis reported symptoms and disease-related complications at higher rates than those without arthritis. Physicians' explorations of the effect of psoriasis on patients' life events could aid in managing these patients.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Eastern Virginia Medical School and Virginia Clinical Research, Inc. , Norfolk , VA , USA .
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pariser
authors.affiliation: b Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC , Horsham , PA , USA .
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schenkel
authors.affiliation: b Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC , Horsham , PA , USA .
authors.forename: Chureen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: c Medical Affairs, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC , Horsham , PA , USA .
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farahi
authors.affiliation: d RTI Health Solutions, Patient-Reported Outcomes , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA , and.
authors.forename: T Michelle
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: e Department of Dermatology , University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Narration; psoriasis; psoriatic arthritis; quality of life; video-audio media; videotape recording