F Sampogna1, L Puig2, P Spuls3, G Girolomoni4, M A Radtke5, B Kirby6, M Brunori7, P Bergmans8, P Smirnov9, J Rundle10, F Lavie7, C Paul11. 1. Dermatological Hospital IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 2. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. 3. Department of Dermatology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 4. University of Verona, Verona, Italy. 5. Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 6. St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. 7. Janssen-Cilag, Paris, France. 8. Janssen-Cilag BV, Tilburg, the Netherlands. 9. Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Moscow, Russia. 10. Janssen-Cilag Ltd, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, U.K. 11. Department of Dermatology, Toulouse University, Hôpital Larrey, 24 Chemin de Pouvourville, 31059, Toulouse, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Single-centre studies show that alexithymia, defined as difficulty in recognizing and describing emotions, is more prevalent among patients with psoriasis than in the general population. However, its prevalence and the consequences of the association between alexithymia and psoriasis are unclear. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of alexithymia, as defined by a score ≥ 61 in the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, in a large sample of patients who had plaque psoriasis for ≤ 10 years and were eligible for phototherapy or systemic treatment. The secondary objectives were to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and the clinical and psychological aspects of psoriasis. METHODS: Data were collected in the framework of an observational, multicentre, international study, the EPidemiological Study In Patients With Recently DiagnosEd PSOriasis (EPIDEPSO), aiming at investigating the prevalence of alexithymia and other psychosocial comorbidities in patients with psoriasis of ≤ 10 years' disease duration. RESULTS: The prevalence of alexithymia within a cohort of 670 patients was 24·8% (95% confidence interval 21·7-28·2). Patients with alexithymia had a higher burden of psoriasis, including significant impairment of quality of life, higher levels of anxiety and depression, a higher risk of alcohol dependency and impairment of work productivity, compared with patients without alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to identify alexithymic patients with psoriasis in clinical practice as they experience a higher disease burden and have a lower ability to express their feelings.
BACKGROUND: Single-centre studies show that alexithymia, defined as difficulty in recognizing and describing emotions, is more prevalent among patients with psoriasis than in the general population. However, its prevalence and the consequences of the association between alexithymia and psoriasis are unclear. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of alexithymia, as defined by a score ≥ 61 in the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, in a large sample of patients who had plaque psoriasis for ≤ 10 years and were eligible for phototherapy or systemic treatment. The secondary objectives were to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and the clinical and psychological aspects of psoriasis. METHODS: Data were collected in the framework of an observational, multicentre, international study, the EPidemiological Study In Patients With Recently DiagnosEd PSOriasis (EPIDEPSO), aiming at investigating the prevalence of alexithymia and other psychosocial comorbidities in patients with psoriasis of ≤ 10 years' disease duration. RESULTS: The prevalence of alexithymia within a cohort of 670 patients was 24·8% (95% confidence interval 21·7-28·2). Patients with alexithymia had a higher burden of psoriasis, including significant impairment of quality of life, higher levels of anxiety and depression, a higher risk of alcohol dependency and impairment of work productivity, compared with patients without alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to identify alexithymic patients with psoriasis in clinical practice as they experience a higher disease burden and have a lower ability to express their feelings.
Authors: Sofia Tsiori; Natalia Rompoti; Konstantinos Kontoangelos; Christos Papageorgiou; Charalabos Papageorgiou; Alexander Stratigos; Dimitrios Rigopoulos Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-29 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: C Elise Kleyn; Peter S Talbot; Nehal N Mehta; Francesca Sampogna; Chris Bundy; Darren M Ashcroft; Alexa B Kimball; Peter C M van de Kerkhof; Christopher E M Griffiths; Fernando Valenzuela; Joelle M van der Walt; Tsion Aberra; Lluís Puig Journal: Acta Derm Venereol Date: 2020-01-07 Impact factor: 3.875
Authors: Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda; Emanuel Vanegas; Miguel Felix; Sofia Cherrez; Delia Suárez-Almendariz; Johana Ponton; Vladimir Preciado; Edgar Ollague-Cordova; Enrique Loayza Journal: Psychol Res Behav Manag Date: 2019-12-16
Authors: Rossella Mattea Quinto; Francesco De Vincenzo; Dario Graceffa; Claudio Bonifati; Marco Innamorati; Luca Iani Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-19 Impact factor: 3.390