Psoriasis Uncovered is a series of online surveys designed to
evaluate the life-long impact of psoriasis on a person's emotional
wellbeing, social relationships and economic prospects.
2009
Survey
In the first survey conducted in 2009 more than 11,000 people with
psoriasis, from 17 countries completed the questionnaire. Here is
what they told us.
Long term impact of psoriasis:
More than one-third (37%) of all respondents and approximately half
of those with severe psoriasis told us that they will never be the
same person again even if their symptoms were to clear
Effects of psoriasis on self-esteem:
Two-thirds (66%) of all respondents and almost three-quarters of
people with severe psoriasis said that living with disease affected
their self-esteem
Social
Impact
Impact of psoriasis on work:
-
14% told us that they had lost or quit their jobs because of their
psoriasis and almost one-quarter (23%) said that psoriasis
negatively affected their income. These effects were seen in twice
as many respondents with severe psoriasis
-
One-quarter of all respondents and more than 40% of those with
severe psoriasis told us that they could not follow their desired
career path because of their psoriasis
-
Absenteeism was considerable in all respondents and doubled in
those with severe psoriasis. Overall, one-fifth of those with
psoriasis missed work in the last year because of their disease,
with many (18%) missing 11 or more days
Effect of psoriasis on social activities:
-
21% of all respondents and 41% of those with severe psoriasis told
us they had cancelled five or more social engagements in the last
year because of the disease
Impact of psoriasis on self-confidence:
-
Approximately two-thirds of those with psoriasis felt that their
disease had at least a moderate impact on their self-confidence.
This increased to three-quarters of respondents with severe
psoriasis
Impact on age:
-
Psoriasis had a greater effect on younger individuals than on older
people, with almost half of those aged 18-24 years telling us that
they would never be the same person again, even if their psoriasis
symptoms were to clear
-
Psoriasis had at least a large impact on self-esteem and
self-confidence in more than half of these younger individuals, and
was more likely to have a negative effect on career advancement and
ability to attain the highest education level possible compared
with older individuals
