Correlation Between Severity Index and Quality of Life Index in Patients With Psoriasis Assessed Before and After Phototherapy.

ABSTRACT

Psoriasis is a common disease whose impact on the life of patients is well documented. The authors investigated the correlation between clinical severity and quality of life in patients with psoriasis before and after phototherapy. Twenty men and women were assessed before and after 32 phototherapy sessions, employing the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire and the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). A positive and moderate correlation was found between PASI and DLQI after phototherapy (r=0.48, P=.03). This result was not observed before treatment (r=0.13, P=.57). The clinical signs reduction obtained with phototherapy was associated with clinical improvement in patient quality of life. The negative findings for the pretreatment phase suggest a possible acceptance by patients through strategies establishment to improve the handling of the disease, which has a chronic character, and change in the disease's perception after therapy.