6 research outputs found
Dyadic adjustment, family coping, body image, quality of life and psychological morbidity in patients with psoriasis and their partners
Background Psoriasis is an incurable and chronic disease
that includes unpredictable periods of remission and relapse
requiring long-term therapy.
Purpose This paper focuses on the relationship among
family coping, psychological morbidity, body image,
dyadic adjustment and quality of life in psoriatic patients
and their partners.
Method One hundred and one patients with psoriasis and
78 partners comprised the sample. They were regular users
of the Dermatology Service of a Central Northern hospital
in Portugal and a private dermatology clinic. Patients with
psoriasis were assessed on anxiety, depression, body image,
quality of life, dyadic adjustment and family coping.
Partners were assessed on the same measures except body
image and quality of life.
Results A positive relationship among dyadic adjustment,
psychological morbidity and family coping in patients and
their partners was found. Also, patients with lower levels of
quality of life had partners with higher levels of depressive
and anxious symptoms. Better dyadic adjustment predicted
family coping in the psoriatic patient. High levels of dyadic
adjustment in patients and low partners’ trait anxiety
predicted better dyadic adjustment in partners.
Conclusion The results highlight the importance of incorporating
family variables in psychological interventions in
psoriasis’ care, particularly family coping and dyadic
adjustment as well as the need for psychological intervention
to focus both on patients and partners
Quality of Life in Family Members of Vitiligo Patients: A Questionnaire Study in Saudi Arabia
Many dermatologic disorders are known to adversely affect quality of life (QoL) in close relatives or partners of patients; however, it is unknown whether vitiligo impacts the QoL of family members.The aim of this study was to identify the level and domains in which the QoL of partners/relatives of patients with vitiligo are affected by the disease.A total of 141 patients with vitiligo, along with their family members, were recruited to complete validated QoL questionnaires, including the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI).Family member QoL was affected in 129 (91.5 %) of subjects. Mean FDLQI score was 10.3 ± 6.4 standard deviation. Higher FDLQI score (greater impairment in QoL) was significantly associated with male patients, a shorter duration of disease, and higher educational levels in family members. The most affected FDLQI items in order of decreasing incidence were emotional impact, burden of care, impact on the physical well-being of the family member, problems due to the reaction of others in response to the patient’s skin appearance and effect on social life. Overall FDLQI score and the number of items affected correlated with overall patient DLQI score (p < 0.001, r = 0.56 and p < 0.001, r = 0.53, respectively).Vitiligo has a major impact on the QoL of family members of patients and often significantly impairs many aspects of their lives. Educational and supportive programs are recommended for family members of vitiligo patients who are at an increased risk for QoL impairments