A Chinese cross-sectional study on depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with psoriasis vulgaris

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have reported a higher incidence of depression and anxiety in psoriasis patients compared to the general population, which has important implications for assessment and treatment. In this study, we determined the frequency of depression and anxiety in Chinese patients with psoriasis and its relationship with disease severity and other demographic variables. The study included 208 Chinese patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) were used to screen for depression and anxiety. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to assess the severity of psoriasis. Of the 208 patients included in the study, 29 patients (13.9%) were positive for moderate-to-severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and 22 patients (10.6%) were positive for anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) symptoms. Both positive stress reactors who perceived stress as an exacerbating factor of psoriasis and moderate-to-severe psoriasis were found to be positive predictors for the presence of moderate-to-severe depression or anxiety symptoms while longer duration and late onset age played a protective role. In the sample of Chinese patients with psoriasis there was a clinically significant prevalence of depression and anxiety. Our study suggests that Chinese psoriasis patients should be screened for psychiatric comorbidities.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• anxiety
• psoriasis
• stress

Acknowledgments

We thank all patients who participated in this study. Special thanks should be given to Ms. Lianxiang Zhang, Ms. Wenjuan Zhang and Ms. Xian Sun for their support and assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant number 81673073 and 81201033]; Priority Speciality, Health and Family Planning Commission of Changning District, Shanghai [Grant number 20161003]; Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology [Grant number 15DZ194270A].