Quality of Life and Inferred Psychosocial Burden in Libyan Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Salwa Abdal Hamied Abdaljawad

  Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya

  Author

• Hafsa Muhammed Younis Ghatesh

  Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya

  Author

• Malak Ali Mohammed

  Faculty of Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya

  Author

• Soror Almabrouk Saeid

  Faculty of Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya

  Author

• Meesa Yahy Saeid

  Faculty of Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya

  Author

Background and Objective: Psoriasis is a chronic condition that profoundly impacts patients' quality of life and psychosocial well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life and inferred psychosocial burden among Libyan patients with psoriasis and to explore their association with disease severity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 114 Libyan patients with psoriasis. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, disease severity, and treatment modalities were collected. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was utilized to assess the quality of life, and psychosocial burden was inferred from the psychosocial domains of the DLQI. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The mean age of the participants was 40.18 ± 16.19 years, with females comprising 55.3%. Mild psoriasis was observed in 77.2% of patients, while moderate and severe cases accounted for 13.2% and 9.6%, respectively. The median overall DLQI score was 11.50, with 50.0% of patients experiencing a "very large effect" on their lives. A significant association was found between psoriasis severity and DLQI scores (Kruskal-Wallis H = 38.248, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Psoriasis profoundly impairs the quality of life of Libyan patients, strongly correlating with disease severity. However, the associated psychosocial burden is solely inferred from DLQI domains; therefore, incorporating independent, validated psychiatric assessment instruments is highly recommended for future studies to accurately evaluate psychological comorbidities.

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