OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stressful life events on the onset and exacerbation of psoriasis, depression, anxiety, life satisfaction and affective expression levels in psoriasis patients and psychological risk factors related to psoriasis.

METHOD

Fifty psoriasis patients were examined dermatologically and psychiatrically and then administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI I-II), Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS) and Body Image Satisfaction Scale (BIS). Symptom severity was measured by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI).

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients declared that they had had a psychologically stressful life event in the last 3 months prior to the beginning of the illness. The mean PASI score was 1.75+/-1.65; BDI score 13.58+/-6.11; STAI-I score 39.54+/-9.18, STAI-II score 46.58+/-8.05; LSS score 9.18+/-4.39; CECS score 51.64+/-9.75; BIS score 93.74+/-16.67.

CONCLUSION

Psoriasis patients reported significantly higher degrees of depression and more body cathexis problems than controls. In addition, the risk for developing psoriasis increased significantly in patients with moderate and severe depression. We also found a relationship between symptom severity and low affective expression and high BDI scores in this study. These findings suggest that the relationship between psoriasis and psychological problems can be reciprocal and requires further investigation.