title: Quality of life and psychosocial aspects in Greek patients with psoriasis: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a common, long-term skin disease associated with high levels of psychological distress and a considerable adverse impact on life. The effects of psoriasis, beyond skin affliction, are seldom recognized and often undertreated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to evaluate the quality of life, anxiety and depression, self-esteem and loneliness in patients with psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four patients with psoriasis were enrolled in the study. The quality of life, depression and anxiety, loneliness and self-esteem of the patient were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the UCLA loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3) and Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Dermatology Quality of Life Index score among psoriasis patients was 12.61 ± 4.88. They had statistically significantly higher scores according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale -anxiety subscale (p=0.032)-compared with healthy volunteers. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups concerning the UCLA-scale (p=0.033) and RSES-scale (p<0.0001). Female patients presented with lower self-esteem than male patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psoriasis is a distressing, recurrent disorder that significantly impairs quality of life. Therefore, the recognition and future management of psoriasis may require the involvement of multi-disciplinary teams to manage the physical, psychological and social aspects of the condition, as is the case for systemic, long-term conditions.
authors.affiliation: "Andreas Sygros" Skin Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anargyros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kouris
authors.affiliation: "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.affiliation: "Andreas Sygros" Skin Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanaki
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, Greece.
authors.forename: Miltiadis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Livaditis
authors.affiliation: "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Revekka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsatovidou
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kouskoukis
authors.affiliation: "Andreas Sygros" Skin Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petridis
authors.affiliation: "Andreas Sygros" Skin Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kontochristopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012934:Social Isolation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult