Psoriatic itch from the patients' perspective: a cross-sectional study.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Psychiatry
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease impacting physical and mental health.
• Itch is a common and distressing symptom in psoriasis, often linked to psychological comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how itch influences anxiety, depression, quality of life, and stigmatization in psoriasis patients.
• To quantify the relationship between itch severity and mental health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• 106 adult psoriasis patients were assessed using validated questionnaires for disease severity (PASI), itch (NRS, 4-IIQ), anxiety (GAD-7, HADS), depression (PHQ-9, HADS), quality of life (DLQI), and stigmatization (6-ISS).
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine correlations between itch intensity and various psychological and quality of life measures.

Main Results:

• Psoriasis patients experiencing itch reported significantly higher scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
• Itch intensity, measured by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), showed significant positive correlations with HADS total score, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and DLQI.

Conclusions:

• Itch is a significant factor negatively impacting the quality of life and mental well-being of individuals with psoriasis.
• Effective management of itch is essential for improving the comprehensive health outcomes of psoriasis patients.