Identifying Psychosocial Effects of Psoriasis and Helping Pediatric Patients and Families Cope
Keywords: Pediatric Psoriasis, Family, Children, Adolescents, Quality of life, Coping
Introduction
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder that affects at least 2% of populations around the world (Salman et al., 2018). In most cases, the onset of Psoriasis happens in their childhood and adolescence periods. This disorder is characterized by cutaneous lesions that significantly impair the patient’s quality of life. Because of the high prevalence of Psoriasis in children and adolescents, it is important to assess and identify how this disorder affects the quality of life for these patients and their families and help them cope with life as usual ((Day & Paller, 2017). According to Salman et al. (2018), this assessment helps patient caregivers to identify and administer interventions for the psychological well-being of children and adolescents. This research paper investigates the effects of psoriasis in the quality of life of pediatric patients and how healthcare service providers can help these patients together with their families to cope with life despite the psychological symptoms.
Methods
This research investigated how pediatric psoriasis triggers anxiety and depression levels in children and adolescents and how this impacted on the quality of life in these patients and their families. The study considered patient diagnosed with psoriasis between the ages of 5 to 17. The patients were recruited for the study after signing ethical consent forms. The study assessed the severity of psoriasis in various patients using the PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index). The Socio-economic status index (SSI) was used to assess the quality of life for families in terms of socio-economic status (Salman et al., 2018).
Children’s dermatology life quality index (CDLQI) was used to assess dermatological issues in children while family dermatology life quality index (FDLQI) was used for families of patients and their health caregivers. Children’s depression inventory (CDI) was used to evaluate depression levels in pediatric patients whereas the state-trait anxiety inventory for children (STAIC) helped in assessing anxiety levels for the patients (Salman et al., 2018).
Analysis and Results
The findings were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study incorporated 54 patients (29 males, 25 females) diagnosed with psoriasis. The average duration of psoriasis in the patients was ranging between 15 – 70 months. The PASI score was between 0.9 – 3.30 during the interviews. The study was able to establish two subtypes of psoriasis; the localized plague subtype (60% of the patients) and the generalized plague subtype of psoriasis (25% of the patients). History of psoriasis in the family was noted at 22%, and the commonly used treatments were acitretin (8%), phototherapy (15%), and administration of topical corticosteroids (75%) (Salman et al., 2018).
Limitations
The disease severity in patients was relatively mild, and there was no control group against which to assess disease severity.
Discussion
Pediatric psoriasis has tremendous impacts on the quality of life both in patients and in their families. Chronic psoriasis affects aspects such as one’s education, career choice, sustenance of social relationships and family ties (Baratashvili & Karpova, 2017). If patients are not given adequate psychological support, they end up living miserable lives, and it becomes difficult for them to cope with life as other people. Therefore, caregivers should be incorporated into treatments and therapies meant to boost the quality of life in pediatric patients and their families. Children and adolescents suffering from psoriasis should have caregivers who participate in disease-treatment activities such as nurses and doctors. These caregivers are better placed to help both the patients and their families to cope despite the psychological burdens resulting from the disorder (Day & Paller, 2017).
Conclusion
In a nutshell, psoriasis has been found to have severe negative impacts on the quality of life in children and adolescents and their families. Psoriasis triggers anxiety and depression in children and adolescents, and this affects their education, personal relationships, and family life in general. Patient caregivers should assess the quality of life in patients and their families and prescribe treatments and therapies that help patients and their families cope (Salman et al., 2018).
References:
Baratashvili, A. D., & Karpova, E. P. (2017). Topical Deconstants In Peditric Practice. Medical Council, (9), 44–47. doi: 10.21518/2079-701x-2017-9-44-47
Day, J., & Paller, A. S. (2017). Pediatric psoriasis. Psoriasis, 149–158. doi: 10.1201/9781315119298-15
Salman, A., Yucelten, A. D., Sarac, E., Saricam, M. H., & Perdahli-Fis, N. (2018). Impact of psoriasis in the quality of life of children, adolescents and their families: a cross-sectional study. Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia, 93(6), 819–823. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20186981