Abstract
The main goal of this study was to assess the emotion regulation (ER) mechanisms, such as expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal, in patients with psoriasis, as compared with healthy persons not afflicted by dermatological diseases. Moreover, the study intended to carry on a multidimensional assessment of emotional mechanisms in persons with psoriasis, highlighting the differences between psoriasis patients and healthy participants, in order to identify the specific patterns of emotion dysregulation (ED) in psoriasis. Another goal of the study was to investigate the predictors of ED among different emotional patterns. We presumed that the maladaptive ER mechanisms are higher in psoriasis patients than in the control group and there are specific dysregulation patterns in psoriasis patients as negative emotions tendency. This cross-sectional study was performed on 192 individuals aged between 35 and 75 years (mean age 59). The sample was divided in two groups: the clinical group including 91 patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris and the control group including 101 healthy persons. The results of the present study suggest that psoriasis patients more frequently used emotional suppression – a maladaptive ER mechanism – as well as ED patterns – i.e., impulse control difficulties, and nonacceptance of emotional responses. They also displayed trait tendency to a negative emotional response. In fact, in people with psoriasis, the presence of suppression mechanism and negative affect of trait could predict that 35% of patients will show emotional dysregulated patterns, while living with higher levels of ED. The results of our study are important in the clinical practice, helping clinicians to better understand the emotional vulnerability of people that live with psoriatic disease, and to optimize the disease management and patient care in an interdisciplinary approach.
Highlights
Psoriasis is a chronic, visible, immune-mediated psychocutaneous disease, which can impact considerably the patient’s life quality and their daily functioning (Yadav et al, 2013; França et al, 2017)
Our results suggest that psoriasis patients show a higher maladaptive mechanism when attempting to regulate their emotions (Z = 3.112, p < 0.002) compared to healthy controls, where no difference was shown in the adaptive mechanism (Table 3)
As for the maladaptive regulation, we conclude that patients with psoriasis show major emotion dysregulation (ED) patterns as opposed to healthy controls and reported higher scores on two out of six dimensions of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS): nonacceptance (Z = 2.311, p = 0.022) and impulse (Z = 3.193, p = 0.002) (Table 3)
Summary
Visible, immune-mediated psychocutaneous disease, which can impact considerably the patient’s life quality and their daily functioning (Yadav et al, 2013; França et al, 2017). This skin condition is characterized by circumscribed, erythematous, dry, scaly plaques and has a fluctuating severity over time (Reich, 2012; Brandon et al, 2019). There is evidence in the literature showing that psychological stress may have a role in the onset or exacerbation of a variety of skin diseases (Al’Abadie et al, 1994). There is evidence in the literature showing that psychological stress may have a role in the onset or exacerbation of a variety of skin diseases (Al’Abadie et al, 1994). Devrimci-Ozguven et al (2002) suggests that stressful incidents occur before the onset of psoriasis flares in approximately 68% of adult patients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
