Problem-solving therapy may benefit psoriasis patients

Problem-solving training or therapy may be a suitable option for alleviating levels of psychological distress in patients suffering from psoriasis.

Researchers from Adnan Menderes University and Silopi State Hospital, both in Turkey, used questionnaires and clinical evaluations to gather data from patients with psoriasis (n=51) and healthy controls (n=51) to investigate the social problem-solving skills, perceived stress, negative life events, depression and life satisfaction in these patients.

For patients with psoriasis, duration of disease ranged between 3 months and 53 years (average 16 years) and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores ranged between 0 and 20 (mean of 4). The patient group largely included mild and moderate psoriatic cases.

According to the study data, patients with psoriasis exhibited lower social problem-solving skills and higher negative problem orientation and impulsive-careless problem-solving scores than patients in the control group. In addition, patients with psoriasis also were more likely to show more avoidant problem-solving style and lower life satisfaction than controls.

Lower rates of depression, perceived stress and fewer numbers of negative life events and higher level of life satisfaction were all associated with higher social problem-solving skills. However, no significant difference was found in between the two groups regarding rates of depression, perceived stress and negative life events.

“A better understanding of psychosocial aspects involved in both psoriasis onset and progression may provide significant clues for competent clinical practice,” the researchers wrote.