Impact of psoriasis in patients and partners

Abstract

Psoriasis has a profound psychological impact on patients’ everyday life. Partners of psoriasis patients experience a wide range of detrimental effects on their lives. The burden of this disease extends beyond physical manifestations and includes significant physical, social and psychological impairments. The disfigurement that psoriasis causes influences the way patients perceive themselves and how others perceive them. Studies have found that psoriatic disfigurement has an impact on depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and self-esteem. There also seems to be a weak association between the severity of psoriasis and an array of negative social and personal consequences. The perception of a negative body image can cause sexual difficulties, particularly surrounding interest in initiating or being receptive to sexual activity. Studies have revealed that psoriasis is also associated with a variety of psychological difficulties, including sexual dysfunction and psychological morbidity, with substantial impairment in quality of life. This may lead patients to social isolation, particularly when they have few coping strategies to handle the disease. Despite the effects of psoriasis on patients, the literature remains equivocal with regard to the prevalence and degree of this impairment. Just as negative interactions may adversely affect marital well-being, positive interactions between the patient and the partner may also improve coping strategies regarding the outbreaks of psoriasis. Partners who show unconditional acceptance, demonstrate respect, sensitivity and use humor to help patients feel valued and attractive have a positive impact on the patient’s marital relationship and as a consequence, on their well-being. In fact, family-based coping strategies help patients handle psoriasis by restoring stability and maintaining couple satisfaction. This chapter will analyse the impact of psoriasis on quality of life, psychological morbidity, body image and coping strategies, with the aim of contributing to the development of intervention programs to increase the quality of life in this population. It is therefore extremely important, regarding patients with psoriasis, to screen for any psychological problem that might interfere with a patient’s mental and physical health. Simultaneously, the impact of psoriasis in partners upon couple adjustment and family coping will also be analyzed, with the aim of contributing to the generation of intervention programs that improve a couple’s relationship when one of them suffers from psoriasis.