Psychological Distress, Alexithymia and Alcohol Misuse in Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study investigates (a) the prevalence of psychological distress, alexithymia and alcohol misuse in psoriasis patients; and (b) the relationship between psoriasis severity, alexithymia, alcohol and psychological distress in patients with psoriasis. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Outpatients (n=184) with moderate to severe psoriasis completed a psychological screening battery. Measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dermatology Life Quality Index, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, the Self-Administered Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Demographic, clinical details and information on knowledge of psychosocial issues, alcohol and confidence on coping with distress and talking to others about psoriasis was also gathered. Alexithymia was associated with anxiety, depression and worry; subjective psoriasis severity was associated with worry. Alcohol misuse was related to anxiety and worry, but not to depression. Appropriate identification and treatment of alcohol difficulties and psychological distress of patients with psoriasis is needed.