Background: Stigmatization is a central experience of patients with psoriasis with a broad psychic and social impact. Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the dimensions of stigma experience by a Questionnaire on Experience with Skin Complaints (QES; ‘Fragebogen zum Erleben von Hautbeschwer-den’). Methods: 187 in-patients with psoriasis were examined with the QES, an adopted and extended (German) version of the Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire by Ginsburg and Link. A factor analysis of the questionnaire was conducted and the construct validity was evaluated. Results: Five factors were found: ‘self-esteem’, ‘retreat’, ‘rejection’, ‘composure’ and ‘concealment’. Self-esteem, retreat and rejection are mainly influenced by ‘problematic regions’ affected by psoriasis, rejection also by ‘visible parts’ and retreat also by ‘invisible regions’. The influences of age, age at onset and sex on the stigma experience are small but significant. Conclusions: The QES proved to be an economical and reliable psychometric instrument to differentiate the stigma experience of psoriasis patients.

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BTX injection, which can be performed in an outpatient setting, is as safe and cost-effective as balloon dilation in symptomatic achalasia. Taking into account the lower long-term efficacy of BTX injection therapy, however, it is an alternative only in a minority of older or high-risk patients.

In patients after liver transplantation, the implantation of a polypropylene mesh proved to be an efficient and safe method of treating incisional hernias. Implantation of a mesh was not associated with an increased infection rate, despite the use of immunosuppression. In view of the high recurrence rate associated with primary closure, mesh implantation should be given preference.