Psoriasis affects self-perception of stress negatively: A prospective, case-control study.

Although stress has been considered a contributor in the development and exacerbation of psoriasis, few prospective studies have presented evaluations of the association between stress and psoriasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceived stress, depression, and anxiety profiles in patients with psoriasis. A total of 195 patients with psoriasis and 114 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The severity of psoriasis was assessed by a single dermatologist using the body surface area and the Physician Global Assessment (PGA). The questionnaires of Dermatology Life Quality Index, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were obtained. The PSS scores were significantly higher in the psoriasis group than in the control group (25.14 ± 8.67 vs 23.0 ± 6.93, P < .001, respectively). The PSS subscales for perceived self-efficacy (PSE) were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in the control group (P = .034). The PSE scores were positively correlated with PGA values (r: .170, P = .017). The present study supports the role of stress in psoriasis. We believe that the identification and management of stress in patients with psoriasis will help improve treatment strategies.