THE ETIOPATHOGENETIC PATHWAYS CONNECTING PSORIASIS AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Authors

  • Luisa CALUJAC Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Romania
  • M.-N. GRIGORE Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania
  • A. CIOBÎCĂ Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22551/MSJ.2026.02.03

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin condition that goes beyond the cutaneous symptoms, often affecting patients’ mental health and social interactions. Psychiatric comorbidities like depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders are prevalent and can be worsened by stigma and discrimination. The psychology of psoriasis is discussed in this article based on a 2023 study that used a questionnaire to investigate discrimination, treatment expectations, sleep, and perceived psychosocial effects of psoriasis. Materials and methods: A questionnaire of 101 questions was given to psoriasis patients via social media (n = 155). The responses were assessed descriptively and using multivariable regression. Correlations between discrimination, sleep disturbances, expectations, and side effects on family life, work, and relationships were the focus of the study. Results: Almost half of the participants (43.2%) had experienced discrimination or stigma. Discrimination was strongly related to self-reported negative effects on family life (52.3%), work performance (49.0%), and interpersonal relationships (54.2%), with a moderate effect size (χ² = 32.26, p < 0.001). Sleep issues were less frequently reported (6.5%) and were not strongly related to discrimination. Conclusions: Psoriasis is inextricably linked with mental health, not just a cause of biological inflammation but also social stressors such as stigmatization. The results identify the fact that discrimination plays an underlying part in reducing quality of life, and problems with sleep may be less centrally involved. An integrated medical, psychological, and social treatment approach is needed for overall treatment.

Author Biography

  • A. CIOBÎCĂ, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania

    Ioan Hăulică Institute, Apollonia University, Iasi
    Olga Necrasov Center, Biomedical Research Group, Romanian Academy, Iași Branch
    Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania

References

1. Boehncke WH, Schon MP. Psoriasis. Lancet 2015; 386: 983-994 / doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)619 09-7.

2. Gupta MA, Gupta AK. Psychiatric and psychological co-morbidity in patients with dermatologic disorders: epidemiology and management. Am J Clin Dermatol 2003; 4(12): 833-842 / doi: 10.2165/0012 8071-200304120-00003.

3. Feldman SR, Goffe B, Rice G, et al. The Challenge of Managing Psoriasis: Unmet Medical Needs and Stakeholder Perspectives. Am Health Drug Benefits 2016; 9(9): 504-513.

4. Calujac L, Grigore M. Psoriasis-comorbidities, interrelationships and multifactorial profile. Derma-tovenerologie 2024; 68: 7-15.

5. Magin P, Adams J, Heading G, Pond D, Smith W. Psychological sequelae of acne vulgaris: results of a qualitative study. Can Fam Physician 2006; 52(8): 978-979.

6. Dowlatshahi EA, Wakkee M, Arends LR, Nijsten T. The prevalence and odds of depressive symptoms and clinical depression in psoriasis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Invest Dermatol 2014; 134(6): 1542-1551 / doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.508.

7. Ogdie A, Weiss P. The Epidemiology of Psoriatic Arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2015; 41(4): 545-568 / doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2015.07.001.

8. Wittkower E. Psychological aspects of psoriasis. Lancet 1946; 1(6399): 566-569 / doi: 10.1016/ s0140-6736(46)90407-2.

9. Li F, Zhang YL, Chen X, et al. Mental Stress Affects the Occurrence and Development of Psoriasis Through Neuroendocrine-Immune Regulation: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Derma-tology and Venereology 2023; 6(20: 87-95 / doi: 10.1097/JD9.00000000000 00317.

10. Ferreira BI, Abreu JL, Reis JP, Figueiredo AM. Psoriasis and Associated Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review on Etiopathogenesis and Clinical Correlation. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2016; 9(6): 36-43.

11. Deveci E, Kocacenk T, Sahan E, Yılmaz O, Öztürk A, Kırpınar I. Oxidative stress and inflammatory response in patients with psoriasis; is there any relationship with psychiatric comorbidity and cognitive functions? Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2019; 29: 1-14 / doi: 10.1080/24750573. 2019.1589176.

12. Zhang H, Yang Z, Tang K, Sun Q, Jin H. Stigmatization in Patients with Psoriasis: A Mini Review. Front Immunol 2021; 12: 715839 / doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.715839.

13. Wan MT, Pearl RL, Chiesa Fuxench ZC, Takeshita J, Gelfand JM. Anticipated and Perceived Stigma Among Patients with Psoriasis. J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis 2020; 5(3): 93-99 / doi: 10.1177/24755 30320924009.

14. Chosidow O, Dellavalle R, Do D, Gonzales U, Popescu C, Williams H et al. The risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in patients with psoriasis: a population-based cohort study. Arch Dermatol 2010; 146(8): 891-895 / doi: 10.1001/archdermatol.2010.186.

15. Man AM, Orășan MS, Hoteiuc OA, Olănescu-Vaida-Voevod MC, Mocan T. Inflammation and Psori-asis: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24(22): 16095 / doi: 10.3390/ijms 242216095.

16. Guo M, Su J, Zheng S, Chen B. Sleep in psoriasis: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Re-search 2024; 176: 111543 / doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111543.

17. Picardi A, Mazzotti E, Gaetano P, et al. Stress, social support, emotional regulation, and exacerbation of diffuse plaque psoriasis. Psychosomatics 2005; 46(6): 556-564 / doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.46.6.556.

18. Clemmesen M, Ravn Jørgensen AH, Nielsen VW, et al. Disease and treatment‐related expectations, attitudes, and beliefs among adult patients initiating or switching biological therapies for psoriasis. JEADV Clinical Practice 2023; 2(4) / doi: 10.1002/jvc2.218.

19. Grossschaedl K, Weger W, Graier T, Salmhofer W, Mrowietz U, Wolf P. Psoriasis and its impact on close relatives and partners of patients - A cross-sectional questionnaire study. Skin Health Dis 2024; 4(3): e355. / doi: 10.1002/ski2355.

Additional Files

Published

2026-06-01

Issue

Vol. 130 No. 2 (2026): The Medical-Surgical Journal

Section

INTERNAL MEDICINE - PEDIATRICS

License

Copyright (c) 2026 The Medical-Surgical Journal

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

COPYRIGHT 
Once an article is accepted for publication, MSJ requests a transfer of copyrights for published articles.

COPYRIGHT TRANSFER FORM FOR 

REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALĂ A SOCIETĂȚII DE MEDICI ȘI NATURALIȘTI DIN IAȘI /

THE MEDICAL-SURGICAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF PHYSICIANS AND NATURALISTS FROM IASI

We, the undersigned authors of the manuscript entitled

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

warrant that this manuscript, which is submitted for publication in the REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALĂ, has not been published and it is not under consideration for publication in another journal.

  1. we give the consent for publication in the REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALĂ, in printed and electronic format and we transfer unconditioned and complete the copyright of this manuscript to the REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALĂ, in the event of its acceptance.
  2. the manuscript does not break the intellectual property rights of any other person.
  3. we have read the submitted version of the manuscript and we are fully responsible for the content.

Names and signatures of authors / copyright owners (the following sequence is the authorship of the article):

  1. ______________________________/_________________________
  2. ______________________________/_________________________
  3. ______________________________/_________________________

N.B.  All the authors must sign this form