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

Variáveis individuais e familiares na psoríase: um estudo com doentes e parceiros

Este trabalho avalia morbilidade, qualidade de vida, ajustamento de casal, coping familiar e imagem corporal em 101 doentes com psoríase e 78 parceiros. Os resultados revelaram uma relação positiva entre as variáveis dos doentes e parceiros no que diz respeito ao ajustamento, coping e morbilidade. Pior qualidade de vida e imagem corporal no doente estão associadas a mais morbilidade no parceiro. Os doentes em tratamento combinado e fototerapia apresentaram pior qualidade de vida e insatisfação com a imagem corporal. Melhor ajustamento de casal e menor ansiedade no parceiro predizem ajustamento de casal no doente. Satisfação com a imagem corporal prevê melhor qualidade de vida no doente. Os resultados enfatizam a necessidade de envolver os parceiros nos programas de intervenção. As implicações são apresentadas

Updates from the British Association of Dermatologists 86th annual meeting, 4-7 July 2006, Manchester, U.K.

Here we provide a synopsis of the main clinical and research advances in clinical, epidemiological and biological dermatology that were presented at the meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) held during 4-7 July 2006, in Manchester, U.K. Only the more important advances or summaries of findings are mentioned. The meeting was held at the Manchester International Conference Centre (Fig. 1). The annual dinner was held at Manchester Town Hall, in the Great Hall decorated with magnificent murals by Ford Madox Brown, with Dr Susan Burge as host