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Life events involvement in psoriasis onset/recurrence
Author(s) -
Manolache Liana,
PetrescuSeceleanu Dana,
Benea Vasile
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2009.04367.x
Subject(s) - psoriasis , medicine , odds ratio , dermatology
Background The purpose of the study was to evaluate the possible role of stress before the onset/extension/recurrence of psoriasis. Patients and method One hundred and sixty‐nine outpatients with psoriasis and 169 age and gender matched controls were enrolled. The design was a case‐control study (controls had skin diseases with low psychosomatic component). Stressful life events were evaluated using Holmes and Rahe’s Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Results In the psoriatic group, there was a female predominance (66%) and a median age 47.55 years (SD = 20.32). In all, 10.65% of patients had family history of psoriasis. More than 54% of cases experienced at least one stressful event (47.36% for onset, 63.51% for recurrence/extension), compared with 19.52% of controls (χ 2 = 42.71, P < 0.0001). The odds ratio was 4.92. There was a significant difference in the mean number of stressful events between patients and controls ( P < 0.0001). Women with psoriasis vulgaris and men with guttate psoriasis seemed to be more sensitive to stressful events. We divided the events described by Holmes and Rahe into three categories: family, personal, and job/financial problems. Family matters were mentioned by 42.7% of psoriatic patients, statistically significant compared with controls ( P < 0.0001). In 35% of psoriatic cases, “the stressful event” was represented by the illness/death of someone dear. Both “personal” (25.6%; P = 0.02) and “job/financial problems” (31.6%; P < 0.0001) were significantly different compared with controls. Conclusions Stressful events could be highly related to psoriasis (especially in recurrences/extensions). Problems related to family are the most often involved with counseling being suggested.