Gender, Body Image and Social Support: Biopsychosocial Deter­minants of Depression Among Patients with Psoriasis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the importance of psychosocial factors, such as emotional and instrumental social support, distress, and assumptions about appearance and its salience to one's self-worth, and to relate these factors to depressive symptoms in patients with psoriasis, according to gender. A group of 219 patients with psoriasis, aged 18-70 years completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Appearance Schemas Inventory-Revised, the Berlin Social Support Scales, and the Distress Thermometer. Body Surface Area index was used to assess the severity of psoriasis. The main contributors to depression were: female gender, beliefs about appearance and its salience to one's self-worth, greater psychological distress, and lower levels of emotional social support. Therefore, improving the body image of patients with psoriasis, by reducing its salience in their personal lives, may play a role in the prevention of depression, especially in women.

Anxiety and depression in patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis and comparison of change from baseline after treatment with guselkumab vs. adalimumab: results from the Phase 3 VOYAGE 2 study

“…This study confirms that high proportions of patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis have anxiety and depression. Psoriasis affects not only the patient's skin, but can negatively affect their self‐esteem, work productivity and overall quality of life . In addition, patients with long‐term psoriasis and anxiety or depression may have cumulative life impairment, and restoration of their mental health may take time .…”

Epidemiology of Depression in Patients with Psoriasis: A Nationwide Population-based Cross-sectional Study

“…There may be a number of explanations for the association between psoriasis and depression. Psoriasis often has a negative impact on a patient's physical appearance, which may lead to low mood, loss of self-esteem, stigmatization and social withdrawal (36). This may result in impaired quality of life and increase the likelihood of experiencing depression (37,38).…”

Acceptance of psoriasis in the context of body image, body experience, and social support

“…In turn, Leichtman and colleagues (1981) applied projective methodology, while comparing patients with mild and severe psoriasis, and managed to explain some of the differences in sexuality in the context of anxiety. Moreover, Wojtyna, Łakuta, Marcinkiewicz, Bergier-Czop, and Brzezińska-Wcisło (2017) found that negative beliefs about appearance are an important risk factor for depression in psoriasis patients. Notably, none of the studies examined the relationship between adaptation to the disease and body image.…”