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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Skin pain and skin discomfort is associated with quality of life in patients with psoriasis

  1. T.M. Ljosaa1,2,*,
  2. C. Mork3,
  3. A. Stubhaug2,
  4. T. Moum4,
  5. A.K. Wahl5

Article first published online: 8 MAR 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04000.x

Issue

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Volume 26, Issue 1, pages 29–35, January 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ljosaa, T.M., Mork, C., Stubhaug, A., Moum, T. and Wahl, A.K. (2012), Skin pain and skin discomfort is associated with quality of life in patients with psoriasis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 26: 29–35. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04000.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Health Sciences, Buskerud University College, Drammen, Norway

  2. 2

    Department of Anaesthesiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

  3. 3

    Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

  4. 4

    Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Oslo University, Oslo, Norway

  5. 5

    Institute of Health and Society, Oslo University, Oslo, Norway

* T.M. Ljosaa. E-mail:tone.marte.ljosaa@hibu.no

  1. The following noncommercial organizations funded the study: Health and Rehabilitation, The Norwegian Research Council, The US-Norway Fulbright Foundation and Buskerud University College.

  2. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest to declare for any of the authors in the study.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 DEC 2011
  2. Article first published online: 8 MAR 2011
  3. Received: 11 June 2010; Accepted: 21 January 2011

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Abstract

Background  Patients with psoriasis commonly report severe sensory skin symptoms, sleep disturbance, psychological distress and impaired health related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the complex associations among these factors are poorly investigated in this patient group.

Objectives  The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between skin pain or skin discomfort and HRQoL, and explore whether sleep disturbance and psychological distress were mediators of these associations.

Methods  A total of 139 psoriasis patients from a university hospital setting participated in this exploratory, cross-sectional study. Data were obtained through interviews and questionnaires (Dermatology Life Quality Index, General Sleep Disturbance Scale, Illness Perception Questionnaire) and analysed using a series of multiple regression analyses. HRQoL was the dependent variable. Independent variables and assumed mediators were entered into the model in a predefined order.

Results  Skin pain, skin discomfort, sleep disturbance and psychological distress were significantly associated with HRQoL (all P < 0.05). Sleep disturbance was a partial mediator for the association between skin pain and HRQoL. No such mediation effect was found in terms of psychological distress. The total model explained 40% of the variance in HRQoL.

Conclusion  In this study, skin pain and skin discomfort were significantly related to HRQoL when controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics. In addition, sleep disturbance mediated the association between skin pain and HRQoL. An understanding of the complex association among physiological and psychological factors, and HRQoL is clinically important in order to provide proper treatment and care of patients with psoriasis.

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