Comparative study of quality of life and psychosocial characteristics in patients with psoriasis and leg ulcers.

Psoriasis and leg ulcers have a marked impact on the patient's quality of life and represent a life-long burden for affected patients. The aim of this study is to compare the quality of life, anxiety and depression, self-esteem, and loneliness in patients with psoriasis and leg-ulcer patients. Eighty patients with leg ulcers, eighty patients with psoriasis, and eighty healthy controls were included in this study. The quality of life, depression and anxiety, loneliness of the patient, and self-esteem were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the UCLA loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3), and the Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale (RSES), respectively. The DLQI score among patients with psoriasis was 12.74 ± 4.89 and leg ulcer patients was 13.28 ± 2.57. The patients with psoriasis presented statistically significant higher anxiety (9.87 ± 4.56) than both leg ulcer patients (8.26 ± 2.82) and controls (6.45 ± 1.89), while leg ulcer patients also presented higher anxiety than controls. Regarding self-esteem, although there were no significant differences between the patients with psoriasis (15.25 ± 3.20) and the ones with leg ulcers (15.89 ± 2.93), they both presented statistically significant lower self-esteem scores than control group (18.53 ± 3.04). The patients with psoriasis presented statistically significant higher levels of loneliness and social isolation (46.18 ± 6.63) compared to leg ulcer patients (43.73 ± 5.68) than controls (42.49 ± 3.41). Psoriasis and leg ulcers are long-term skin diseases associated with significant impairment of the patient's quality of life, anxiety, and self-esteem, which are frequently under-recognized.

Quality of life, anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive tendencies in patients with chronic hand eczema.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hand eczema is a common dermatological disorder of multifactorial aetiology. It affects physical, material, social and psychological aspects of life, thereby impairing health-related quality of life. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess quality of life, anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive tendencies in patients with chronic hand eczema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients with chronic hand eczema were included in the study. Quality of life was evaluated according to the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Patients were also assessed for anxiety and depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and for compulsive behaviour with the Leyton Trait Scale. RESULTS: The DLQI score was 11.11 ± 1.81 in patients with chronic hand eczema. Scores on the Leyton Trait Scale were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (p < 0.027). As concerns the HADS-Anxiety subscale, patients with hand dermatitis had statistically significantly higher scores than those of volunteers (p = 0.002). In contrast, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to the HADS-Depression subscale score and total HADS score. CONCLUSION: Hand eczema treatment should address the severity of skin lesions as well as the psychological impact of hand eczema.

Comparative Study of Quality of Life and Psychological Aspects in Patients with Psoriasis and Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa are two common dermatological diseases that affect physical, social, and psychological aspects of the patients' lives. The aim of this study was to compare quality of life, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and loneliness in patients with psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa. One hundred and eight patients with psoriasis, 113 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and 116 healthy controls were included in the study. The quality of life, depression, anxiety, and loneliness of the patients as well as their self-esteem were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the UCLA loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3) and the Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale (RSES), respectively. Patients with psoriasis (12.77±4.43) reported a higher mean impairment in DLQI than patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (11.10±6.53, P=0.028), in the univariate comparisons. Patients with psoriasis presented statistically significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and healthy controls, while patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also had higher anxiety and depression compared with healthy controls. Patients with psoriasis (46.31±6.36) reported statistically significantly higher loneliness than both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (43.18±7.40) and controls (40.42±4.41), while the patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also presented higher loneliness in comparison with controls. Lower levels of self-esteem were found in patients with psoriasis (15.08±3.11) compared with both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (18.89±1.69) and controls (20.25±2.60), while patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also had lower self-esteem than controls. Significant levels of depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life were strongly associated with disease severity. When patients with mild disease were compared, those with psoriasis presented with both higher levers of loneliness and lower scores for quality of life. Although both psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa are associated with impaired quality of life and psychological aspects, significantly worse scores were recorded in patients with psoriasis.

Comparative Study of Quality of Life and Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies in Patients With Chronic Hand Eczema and Lichen Simplex Chronicus.

BACKGROUND: Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) and chronic hand eczema (CHE) are 2 common dermatological disorders that affect physical, social, and psychological aspects of life. The aim of this study was to compare quality of life and obsessive-compulsive tendencies between patients with LSC and patients with CHE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with LSC, 60 patients with CHE, and 60 healthy controls were included in the study. Quality of life was evaluated according to the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Patients were also assessed for compulsive behavior with the Leyton Trait Scale. RESULTS: Patients with LSC (13.00 [1.41]) had a statistically significant higher mean (SD) DLQI compared with patients with CHE (11.33 [1.53]). Patients with LSC (13.97 [2.14]) presented statistically significant higher levels of obsessive-compulsive personality traits than patients with CHE (12.48 [2.69]), whereas both groups also differed from the healthy controls (10.68 [3.87]). The DLQI was not correlated with the Leyton Trait Scale in either the patients with LSC (r = 0.10, P = 0.50, not significant [NS]) or in the CHE patients (r = 0.01, P = 0.92, NS). CONCLUSIONS: Although both LSC and CHE are associated with impaired quality of life and obsessive-compulsive tendencies, significantly higher scores were recorded in patients with LSC.

Quality of life, depression, anxiety and loneliness in patients with bullous pemphigoid. A case control study.

BACKGROUND:: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a chronic, autoimmune blistering skin disease that affects patients' daily life and psychosocial well-being. OBJECTIVE:: The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life, anxiety, depression and loneliness in BP patients. METHODS:: Fifty-seven BP patients and fifty-seven healthy controls were recruited for the study. The quality of life of each patient was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scale. Moreover, they were evaluated for anxiety and depression according to the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS-scale), while loneliness was measured through the Loneliness Scale-Version 3 (UCLA) scale. RESULTS:: The mean DLQI score was 9.45±3.34. Statistically significant differences on the HADS total scale and in HADS-depression subscale (p=0.015 and p=0.002, respectively) were documented. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups on the HADS-anxiety subscale. Furthermore, significantly higher scores were recorded on the UCLA Scale compared with healthy volunteers (p=0.003). CONCLUSION:: BP had a significant impact on quality of life and the psychological status of patients, probably due to the appearance of unattractive lesions on the skin, functional problems and disease chronicity.

Quality of life and psychosocial aspects in Greek patients with psoriasis: a cross-sectional study.

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. CONCLUSION: 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.

Quality of life, depression, anxiety and loneliness in patients with bullous pemphigoid. A case control study

Abstract: Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a chronic, autoimmune blistering skin disease that affects patients' daily life and psychosocial well-being. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life, anxiety, depression and loneliness in BP patients. Methods: Fifty-seven BP patients and fifty-seven healthy controls were recruited for the study. The quality of life of each patient was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scale. Moreover, they were evaluated for anxiety and depression according to the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS-scale), while loneliness was measured through the Loneliness Scale-Version 3 (UCLA) scale. Results: The mean DLQI score was 9.45±3.34. Statistically significant differences on the HADS total scale and in HADS-depression subscale (p=0.015 and p=0.002, respectively) were documented. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups on the HADS-anxiety subscale. Furthermore, significantly higher scores were recorded on the UCLA Scale compared with healthy volunteers (p=0.003). Conclusion: BP had a significant impact on quality of life and the psychological status of patients, probably due to the appearance of unattractive lesions on the skin, functional problems and disease chronicity.

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. CONCLUSION: 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.