Helplessness as Predictor of Perceived Stigmatization in Patients with Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

Background: The experience of stigmatization is a problem frequently recognized in chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The purpose of the study was to investigate a broad spectrum of physical, psychological and social predictors for perceived stigmatization in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Patients and Methods: Stigmatization experience, demographic variables, age of onset, clinical status, physical symptoms of itch and fatigue, the impact of the disease on daily life, illness cognitions of helplessness and acceptance, and social support were recorded using self-report instruments in 131 patients with psoriasis and in 139 patients with atopic dermatitis. Results: For both skin diseases, lower age, not being married, a worse clinical status, physical symptoms of itch and fatigue, the impact of the disease on daily life, heightened helplessness and less acceptance as well as less social support were all significantly related to the experience of stigmatization. In patients with psoriasis, stigmatization was also related to lower education and earlier age of onset. However, when comparing the predictors in multiple regression analyses, perceived helplessness proved the strongest predictor of the experience of stigmatization in both patients groups. Conclusion: Our results indicate that perceived helplessness acts as a common major predictor of stigmatization in both skin diseases, suggesting that helplessness should be the focus in the study and treatment of stigmatization in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.