Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic dermatological condition that is frequently associated with problematic patterns of emotional reactivity (the way in which patients react to stimuli), alexithymia (their ability to recognize and label the emotional reaction), and emotion regulation (the ability to enhance or reduce their own emotional reaction). A research in the peer-reviewed scientific literature was conducted in order to identify articles describing the association of psoriasis and affective problems. In particular, we first evaluate studies that have investigated abnormal emotional reactivity (in terms of duration, frequency, or type of the experienced emotions) and its impact on patients’ quality of life; next, we review the role of alexithymia and emotion regulation in modulating the relationship between emotional reactivity and quality of life in this population. From a critical analysis of the reviewed studies, we highlight that altered emotional processing might be particularly important in the characterization of this condition. In particular, we show that this condition is related to an emotional reactivity characterized by negative emotions that have a stronger impact on patients’ quality of life when emotion regulation abilities are weak, especially if patients have alexithymia. Finally, we present suggestions for future directions in both clinical and research fields.
Highlights
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting approximately 2% of the population (Schmid-Ott et al, 2007) and characterized by cutaneous lesions that may appear on any part of the body
We provide a review of the literature tapping into emotional processing in psoriasis with the aim of characterizing it in terms of emotional reactivity, alexithymia, and emotion regulation
It is apparent that emotional reactivity, alexithymia, and emotion regulation have a profound impact on the management of psoriasis symptoms
Summary
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting approximately 2% of the population (Schmid-Ott et al, 2007) and characterized by cutaneous lesions that may appear on any part of the body. Psychological stress, in turn, has a negative impact on psoriasis symptoms leading to a self-perpetuating mechanism that might be difficult to interrupt (Basavaraj et al, 2011). In such a scenario, emotional reactivity (i.e., the emotional response provoked by the perception and the valuation of a given situation; Gross and Jazaieri, 2014) and emotion regulation (i.e., the ability to modify the perceived emotion in terms of its quality, intensity, or duration; Gross and Jazaieri, 2014) become crucial. We discuss the implications for clinical practice and research
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