Psoriasis: depression, anxiety, smoking, and drinking habits

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that can negatively impact many aspects of quality of life. Patients with psoriasis may suffer from pain and discomfort from the disease as well as psychological and social difficulties including stigmatization, embarrassment, and social inhibition. Anxiety, depression, smoking, and alcohol abuse have been found to have a higher prevalence among psoriasis patients than healthy controls. These comorbidities have also been found to have a directly negative impact on psoriasis. Awareness of the relationship between psoriasis, psychiatric disorders, and substance abuse is important for dermatologists, as these comorbidities can lead to poor compliance and treatment outcomes.