Increased expressed emotion in patients with psoriasis

Aim of the study
The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with psoriasis are affected by expressed emotion in their family environment.

Material and methods
Participants included 62 patients with psoriasis and 83 healthy controls and their biological parent, wife or husband, or adult child as a key relative. Sociodemographic data were recorded. Psoriasis area severity index was used to evaluate psoriasis severity. Hamilton depression and anxiety scales and the Expressed Emotion Questionnaire form were used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and expressed emotion.

Results
The levels of expressed emotion and its subgroups in the patient group were higher than in the group of healthy controls (p < 0.05). Gender, disease duration, disease severity, and key relatives did not affect the levels of expressed emotion (LEEtotal) in the patients with psoriasis (p > 0.05). The LEEtotal of those with low educational level in the patient group was statistically significantly higher than those with higher educational level (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the presence depression or anxiety and expressed emotion (p > 0.05). There was a negative correlation between age and the levels of expressed emotion in the patient group (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between age and intrusiveness in healthy controls (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
Although decreasing with age, expression of emotion in patients with psoriasis is high, and psychosocial support should be provided to these patients.