The results contradict an earlier study that found the quality of life of psoriasis patients to differ little from the general population. When we included patients with severe psoriasis in the mix, we found that it is very debilitating, both physically and mentally.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that leaves the skin red, scaly, uncomfortable and easily irritated.
Anyone with psoriasis covering more than 10 percent of his or her body is considered to have a severe case. The study looked at 317 psoriasis patients at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center who used a standardized form to rate their quality of life in eight areas. The results were compared with quality of life surveys of patients suffering from other diseases, using the same form. Of 11 other diseases evaluated in the study, the researchers found that only patients with congestive heart failure reported poorer physical functioning than patients with severe psoriasis. Only patients with depression and chronic lung disease reported poorer mental functioning.