A study recently published in Dermatology and Therapy reported that psoriasis significantly impacted major life-changing decisions (MLCDs), with 93.4% of patients reporting at least one MLCD affected. Jacek C. Szepietowski, MD, PhD, and colleagues studied 166 consecutive patients with psoriasis who had a minimum disease duration of 1 year. Th e researchers used standardized instruments to collect data on the clinical and psychological aspects of the disease. Psoriasis commonly affected patients’ physical activity (77%), diet (70%), smoking and alcohol consumption (58%), and career choices (30%). Th ere were significant correlations between MLCD burden and reduced quality of life (r=0.561, P<0.001), greater psoriasis (r=0.275, P<0.001) and itch (r=0.351, P<0.001) severity, and lower disease acceptance (r=−0.545, P<0.001).
