Population-based epidemiologic study of psoriasis with emphasis on quality of life assessment.

With the changing health care scene in the United States, it is important to have up-to-date epidemiological data with regard to the prevalence of psoriasis in the United States. It is also becoming more important to develop a psychometric instrument that is useful in assessing quality of life issues among psoriasis patients. The Psoriasis Disability Index, which was developed in England, may not be optimally applicable in assessing quality of life issues among psoriasis patients seen by American dermatologists. In this article, the latest nationwide population-based epidemiologic data on psoriasis are presented, along with the use of a new psychometric questionnaire that emphasizes the assessment of quality of life rather than disability.