"Ur skin is the thing that everyone sees and you cant change it!": Exploring the appearance-related concerns of young people with psoriasis

Purpose: The failure of research to capture the qualitative experiences of young people who have chronic skin conditions means that their psychosocial needs are poorly understood. Using a grounded theory approach, this study facilitated group discussions between adolescents with psoriasis in order to rapidly identify themes about their support needs. Methods: Three online focus groups were hosted in a real time forum. In total, 8 young people aged 11-18 years were recruited through the websites of psoriasis support organizations. Focus groups lasted an average of 1 hour and data was analysed using grounded theory techniques. Results: Appearance-related concerns are central to the experiences of young people with psoriasis. Participants constructed their individual struggle (It and Me) in physical, emotional, motivational and intellectual terms. A strong sense of Us developed as participants recognized the value of meeting peers with psoriasis. This enabled groups to blame Them for their negative social experiences. Discussion: The findings are discussed in the context of literature around adolescence and appearance. It is suggested that the experience of negative social encounters in adolescence may have long-term implications for appearance anxiety specifically and self-esteem generally. The potential of peer support to improve these outcomes is considered. © 2007 Informa UK Ltd

2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic coronary syndromes.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a pathologic process characterized by atherosclerotic plaque accumulation, in the epicardial arteries, whether obstructive or non-obstructive. This process may be modified by lifestyle adjustments, pharmacological therapies and invasive interventions designed to achieve disease stabilization or regression. The disease can have long stable periods but can also become unstable at any time, typically due to an acute atherothrombotic event caused by plaque rupture or erosion. However, the disease is chronic, most often progressive, and hence serious even in clinically apparently silent periods. The dynamic nature of the CAD process results in various clinical presentations which may be conveniently categorized as either acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). The guidelines presented here refer to the management of patients with CCS