Skin-Disease Specific and Generic Psychometric Measures in Patients with Psoriasis

Abstract

Introduction Psychosocial problems of patients with chronic dermatoses, such as psoriasis, add to their somatic ailments, which results in the lack of illness acceptance, lowered self-esteem, deteriorated quality of life, and an array of somatic comorbidities. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of psoriasis on the quality of life, sense of stigmatization, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life in patients with psoriasis. Methods The study was based on a short survey prepared by the authors and five validated scales: Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), 6-Item Stigmatization Scale, 33-Item Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). The study included 111 patients with psoriasis (46.8% women and 53.2% men). The inclusion criteria of the study were the diagnosis of plaque psoriasis and written informed consent to participate. Results DLQI scores ranged between 0 and 28 points (pts) (mean 10.8 pts). Mean stigmatization scores determined with the 33- and 6-Item Stigmatization Scale were 81.6 pts and 7.5 pts, respectively. The mean SWLS score for the study group (18.5 pts) was slightly below the average. The mean score SES of 27 pts implies that the study respondents’ self-esteem level was slightly above the average. Conclusions Satisfaction with life turned out to be significantly modulated by overall stigmatization level on the 33-Item Stigmatization Scale (the stronger the sense of stigmatization, the lower the satisfaction with life) and education (respondents with higher education presented with higher satisfaction with life than those with non-higher education).

Predictors for Estimating Scars’ Internalization in Victims with Post-Traumatic Scars versus Patients with Postsurgical Scars

“…All these problems may have important effects on the patient’s quality of life. Some authors consider that the aesthetic damage cannot be assessed because it also includes moral suffering [ 24 ], but other authors consider that the quality of life is affected because the success of post-traumatic social reintegration is conditioned [ 25 ].…”

“…The analysis of our results regarding the perception of social support does not provide information to discern between the two groups in terms of the perception of family support (t = −0.640; p > 0.05), friends (t = −0.665; p > 0.05), significant persons (t = −0.791; p > 0.05), and the total score of MSPSS (t = −0.720; p > 0.05). We consider this important, given that social support often plays a significant buffer role [ 20 , 25 ]. Starting from this premises, we consider that social support is not perceived in a differentiated way by people with surgical or posttraumatic scars precisely because of the availability and psychological resources of the group members [ 27 ].…”

“…The availability of social support depends on the characteristics of people with scars as well as on their communication skills. Therefore, personal and social characteristics that make communication impossible are likely to be associated with psychopathogenic effects such as ambivalence in emotional expression, repressive defensiveness, and fear of intimacy [ 25 ].…”