The depression, anxiety, life satisfaction and affective expression levelsin psoriasis patients

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stressful li fe 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 psychiat rically and then administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielber ger State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI I-II), Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), C ourtauld 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 s tressful life event in the last 3 months prior to the beginning of the illn ess. 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 depr ession 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 severi ty and low affective expression and high BDI scores in this study. These fi ndings suggest that the relationship between psoriasis and psychological pr oblems can be reciprocal and requires further investigation.