Introduction and objective
Dermatological patients present significantly more psychological disturbances of various types than the general population. The aim of this study was to analyze neurotic tendencies in psoriasis patients.
Material and methods
The study included a selection of sixty patients with different forms of psoriasis stationary treated in Department of Dermatology. The control group consisted from group 60 healthy persons. All patients underwent standardized structured inventory.
Results
Inventory analysis confirmed presence of neuroticism in 43.3% of cases which shows significant statistical difference comparing with control group where neuroticism is present in only 10% of cases.
Conclusion
This study confirms the correlation of psoriasis vulgar with neurotic tendencies. The discovery of this relationship is very important because the presence neurotic tendencies aggravate psoriasis clinical feature with feeble response to specific treatment.
psoriasis, neuroticism
Psoriasis is a frequent chronic, genetically determined, immunological, inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin disease of unpredictable clinical evolution. Most frequent skin changes are limited eritemo-sqvamoze lesions different in shape and size. Nails are often attacked while joints changes may appear in 5-7% of patients with psoriasis [1].
Morbidity ranges from 1-2% of the total population. Its prevalence varies depending on geographic region. The disease occurs in both sexes equally. Psoriasis may start at any age, although the first manifestation in early childhood and old age of is rare [2].
Psoriasis is a disease with hereditary polygenetic predisposition, whereas exogenous and endogenous factors, may initiate hereditary mechanisms of transformation of clinical latent form of genotype psoriasis in manifested fenotype psoriasis [3]. There are two types of psoriasis: eruptive type featured with small lesions called guttata form, similar with eczematous lesions and chronic plaque type observed in most patients. This form of psoriasis, such lies for months and years and changes very slowly.
Psoriasis is associated more frequently with hypertension, chronic lumbar syndrome, diabetes and myocardial infarction.
Literature gives cases of psoriasis in association with anxiety, depression or other neurotic disorders. Psoriasis is a chronic disease associated with significant physical and psychological morbidity [4]. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that may have significant psychological and social impact in a patient’s life. For patient, psoriasis can be much more than “just a skin disease [5,6].
The purpose of this paper is to determine neuroticism tendencies in patients with psoriasis.
All patients underwent standardized structured inventory MMPI-201 test (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory).
MMPI is multidimensional personality inventory which consists of ten clinical scales and four control levels. It is a psychological test which assesses personality traits and psychopathology.
MMPI-201 personality test underwent 60 cases with psoriasis (36 males and 24 females) hospitalized in department of dermatology, Pristina from January 2009 until December 2011. Inclusive criteria have been cases with various forms of psoriasis clinically diagnosed ore in some cases pathohystologicaly. Exclusion criteria were cases with psoriasis associated with other dermatoses, age under 1and over 17 and over 70 years and patients who refused interview or completing the questionnaire. Based on history and standardized personality inventory personality tendencies in patients with psoriasis were determine.
Same personality inventory testing was performed in control group, which consisted of 60 healthy persons (male 29 and female 31). Statistical significance was determined with x2 and Fisher test. The difference is significant if P<0.05.
Results showed that out of 60 patients with psoriasis to who underwent the psychological testing neuroticism is detected in 26 cases or 43.3%. Women structure with neuroticism has been much greater than men (women 62.5% vs. men 30.6%) significant statistical difference (x2 = 4.75, P=0.029, P<0, 05) (Table 1).
Table 1. Psychological test results in psoriasis group
Gender |
Total |
With neuroticism |
N |
% |
F |
24 |
15 |
62.5 |
M |
36 |
11 |
30.6 |
Total |
60 |
26 |
43.3 |
X2-test, P-value |
X2=4.75, P=0.029 |
From 60 persons of control group who underwent psychological testing neuroticism was is identified in 6 cases or 10.0%. All cases with neuroticism were woman significant statistical difference (Fisher test, P=0.0242, P<0:05) (Table 2).
Table 2. Psychological test results in control group
Gender |
Total |
With neuroticism |
N |
% |
F |
31 |
6 |
19.4 |
M |
29 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
60 |
6 |
10 |
Fisher test |
P=0.0242 |
Significant statistical difference (p<0.01) with neuroticism was found between groups and sexes (Figure l).
Figure 1. Structure of group with neuroticism according gender
Comparison of tendencies according to groups
Anxiety was found in 55.0% of cases in the experimental group and 23.3% of cases in the control group, significant statistical difference (P <0.01). Depression occurred in 26.7% of cases in the experimental group and 6.7% of cases in the control group significant statistical difference (P<0.01). Hypochondriasis occurred in 36.7% of cases in the experimental group and 6.7% of cases in the control group, significant statistical difference (P<0, 01). Phobias occurred in 10.0% of cases in the experimental group and 6.7% of cases in the control group without significant statistical difference (P>0, 05). Impulsive aggressive tendencies occurred in 21.7% of cases in the experimental group and 1.7% of cases in the control group with significant statistical difference (P<0.01) (Table 3 and Figure 2).
Table 3. Tendencies comparison according groups
Tendencies |
Gr.E |
Gr.K |
P-value |
(%) |
(%) |
Anxiosity |
55 |
23.3 |
P=0.0008 |
Depressivity |
26.7 |
6.7 |
P=0.007 |
Hipochondriasis |
36.7 |
6.7 |
P=0.0001 |
Phobia |
10 |
6.7 |
P=0.743 |
Impulsive aggressive tendencies |
21.7 |
1.7 |
P=0.001 |
Figure 2. Tendencies comparison according groups
MMPI testing showed significant statistical difference between the cases with neuroticism by groups and gender, and according to neuroticism trends, with the exception of the tendency for phobia.
Correlation between tendencies and neuroticism in patients with psoriasis
We observed a tendency of occurrence of anxiety, depressivity, hipochondriasis, phobia and impulsive aggressive tendencies in all patients with psoriasis group we detected signs of neuroticism (Table 4).
Table 4. Correlation between tendencies and neuroticism in all patients with psoriasis
|
Gr. with neuroticism |
Gr. without neuroticism |
Total |
N |
% |
N |
% |
N |
% |
Total |
26 |
100 |
34 |
100 |
60 |
100 |
Anxiosity |
18 |
72 |
15 |
62.5 |
33 |
55 |
Depressivity |
16 |
64 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
26.7 |
Hipochondriasis |
18 |
72 |
4 |
16.7 |
22 |
36.7 |
Phobia |
6 |
24 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
10 |
Impulsive aggressive tendencies |
11 |
44 |
2 |
8.3 |
13 |
21.7 |
Psoriasis is a chronic disease associated with experiencing emotional reactions with different intensity. Psoriasis does not endanger the patient's life but since the skin is exposed part of body many of them are not able to experience life pleasure. Consequently, patients with psoriasis most often suffer from depression, anxiety, other neurotic disorders and alcoholism [7-9].
In our paper we investigated the cases with psoriasis neuroticism. Anxiety was found in 55.0% of cases, whereas depressivity 26.7% occurred in the cases. Newly researches suggest that people with psoriasis have a greater risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Compared with control group, patients with psoriasis had a 39% risk increase of clinical diagnosis of depressivity , 31% anxiety and 44% suicidal thought [10]. Patients with psoriasis were 2.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression compared with patients without psoriasis [11].
A 2007 study of 514 Canadians with moderate to severe psoriasis was found that: 19% reported depression, 18% anxiety and 18% insomnia or other sleep disorders [12,13].
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Comprehensive health care of psoriatic patients will involve mental health workers and trained dermatologists in psychosomatics and psychotherapy [14,15].
It is with outmost importance that potential mental health disturbances are identified because they represent important co-morbidities of psoriasis. Early detection and drug or psychotherapeutic treatment of those disturbances may help significantly toward the stabilization of the primary disease, psoriasis.
Future studies are necessary to determine the mechanisms by which psoriasis is associated with anxiety, depressivity or other neurotic disorders, as well as detection of potential strategies to prevent this potential harmful correlation, in patients with psoriasis.
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