["My scale armor protects me"! The personality image and physical disability of psoriasis patients]

With the help of the Giessen-test and the Giessen-complaint form, 28 patients suffering from psoriasis were analysed regarding their personality image and physical disabilities. In comparison with controls (n = 1587), psoriasis patients believed themselves to have "negative social appeal" (p less than or equal to 0.05) and being "reserved" (p less than or equal to 0.01); however, they complained of less physical troubles than healthy controls or psychosomatic patients (p less than or equal to 0.01). Evaluation of these items pointed to depth psychological conflicts of the "not accepted body image" kind, which may precede the disease; the scales might serve as a barrier to psychological troubles.