A multicenter, non-interventional study to evaluate patient-reported experiences of living with psoriasis

Abstract

Background: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (with or without psoriatic arthritis) places significant burden on patients’ lives. Objective: Explore and document patients’ experiences of living with psoriasis, including symptoms, treatments, impact on daily lives and patient-reported functioning. Methods: In a US-based, non-interventional study, narrative interviews were conducted at baseline and again within 16 weeks. In interviews, patients with moderate to severe psoriasis indicated symptoms, ranked symptoms according to level of bother and indicated areas of their lives affected by psoriasis. Transcripts of interviews were coded for themes. Measurements of psoriasis severity including BSA, PGA and PASI were recorded. Results: Symptoms reported most frequently included flaking/scaling (non-scalp areas), itching/scratching and rash, while the most bothersome symptoms were itching/scratching, flaking/scaling (non-scalp areas) and skin pain. Frequently reported impact areas were social and emotional. Conclusion: Broad-reaching interviews with patients with psoriasis show that these patients suffer in many aspects of their lives and in ways not indicated by typical psoriasis severity measures. Patients with psoriatic arthritis reported symptoms and disease-related complications at higher rates than those without arthritis. Physicians’ explorations of the effect of psoriasis on patients’ life events could aid in managing these patients.

• Narration
• psoriasis
• psoriatic arthritis
• quality of life
• video-audio media
• videotape recording

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Janssen employees Marc Chevrier, MD, PhD, Silas Martin, MS, Ariff Rose, PhD and Mary Ann Thomas, RN, BSN, for assistance in the design, implementation and/or completion of the study. The authors also thank April Armstrong, MD, MPH, and Steven Feldman, MD, PhD, for their contributions to the manuscript. Gianna Paone, MS, of Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, provided writing, editorial, preparation and submission support for this manuscript.

Declaration of interest

Mr. Schenkel and Drs. Carter and Farahi are employees of Janssen and own stock in Johnson & Johnson, of which Janssen is a subsidiary. Dr Ellis is a consultant to Johnson & Johnson and to other manufacturers of proposed or marketed therapies for psoriasis and holds a patent on the Lattice System Physician’s Global Assessment for evaluating psoriasis. Dr. Pariser is or has been an investigator for Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Graceway Pharmaceuticals, Intendis, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Peplin and Proctor & Gamble Company; a consultant for Brickell Biotechnology, Genentech and Medicis; and an investigator and consultant for Abbott/Abbvie, Amgen, Astellas, Celgene, Dermira, DUSA, Galderma, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Novartis, Ortho Dermatologics, Pfizer, Inc., Photocure ASA, Stiefel and Valeant. This study was supported by Janssen Biotech, Inc.

Supplementary material available online

Supplementary Information