Coping strategies in psoriasis patients

Introduction: Problem of coping in psoriatic patients seems to be of vast importance in everyday dermatological practice. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of coping with the disease strategies on heath related quality of life (HRQL) in psoriasis patients. Material and methods: The study comprised 100 in-patients with psoriasis vulgaris. SKINDEX-29 and Coping with Skin Disease Scale (by Miniszewska) were used. Results: It was discovered that psoriatics most frequently employed fight spirit strategy and least often helplessness/hopelessness one. The most often coping strategy avoidance/pessimism and helplessness/hopelessness and the less often fight spirit were employed the worse quality of life was reported. Conclusions: Employment of most appropriate individual coping strategies would lead to considerable improvement in one's heath status.