DISEASE SEVERITY, DISABILITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING PUVA TREATMENT FOR PSORIASIS

Background: Patients suffering from severe psoriasis report high levels of personal distress and disability as a result of their disease. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between disease severity, personal distress and disability. Methods: Twenty-two patients provided a self-rating of disease severity and completed the Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). A dermatologist provided a clinical assessment from the case notes. Results: Although the clinical assessment was not related to patient ratings, patient-rated severity scores, GHQ and PDI were correlated with each other. GHQ could only be predicted by disease severity when it was mediated by PDI scores. Conclusions: These results indicated that psoriasis affects psychological distress through its effects on the patients' everyday lives.