Why carry out this study?

Skin lesions cause stigmatization of patients with psoriasis, contribute to the deterioration of their life quality and psychosocial problems.

Psoriasis may be also associated with a plethora of somatic complications and increased socioeconomic burden.

We assumed that the levels of self-esteem and satisfaction with life determine the quality of life and sense of stigmatization of an individual. We hypothesized that patients with psoriasis present with high stigmatization levels, which translates into poor quality of life. These two problems are aggravated by lower satisfaction with life and lower self-esteem and can be modulated by sociodemographic variables.

What was learned from the study?

Psoriatics presented with lowered quality of life measured with the DLQI, and their self-esteem and satisfaction with life were significantly modulated by the stigmatization level.

Localization of psoriatic lesions exerted a significant effect on only two components of the 33-Item Stigmatization Scale, Guilt and Shame and Positive Attitudes, and was not associated with the overall quality of life (DLQI) and other psychometric variables, SWLS and SES.

While the relationships mentioned above are relatively well understood, future research should verify whether and how they evolve in response to social changes, and if this evolution warrants the adjustment of psychotherapeutic approaches and/or modification of the forms and objectives of social campaigns supporting patients with psoriasis.