Comparison of Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris vs. Psoriatic Arthritis with Regard to the Reported Quality of Life

The present study investigates possible differences in quality of life impairment of patients with psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis. One hundred and sixteen patients who were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation to the Fach-klinik Bad Bentheim were asked to fill in a self-assessment questionnaire. This questionnaire comprised the SF-12, the German version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire, questions regarding the Occupational and the social situation as well as additional questions for identification of specific disease-related burden. Altogether, both groups exhibited impairments of the quality of life. As was to be expected, the arthritis patients Suffered from considerably more functional impairment than the patients who only had skin involvement. Interestingly, however, the psychic burden attributable to the disease is equal in patients with isolated skin involvement in comparison to patients with additional arthritis. Summarizing, a different proportion between the extent of psychic and physical impairment is found in the two groups, which might be due to a different pattern of coping with the disease. Taking this aspect into account is imperative when assessing the severity of the disease.