Depression, anxiety, stress and life satisfaction in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria

Abstract

Aim: Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) is the skin diseases with high rates of comorbid psychopathology. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between CSU and anxiety, depression, stress and life satisfaction.

Materials and Methods: 204 people were included in the study. 101 were CSU patients and 103 were healthy control participants. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained by the Questionnaire created by the research team. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale were used to assess psychological status and life satisfaction. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 17.

Results: Stress and anxiety scores (15,88±6,73 to 13,33±6,05, p<0,05 and 10,06±5,94 to 7,35±5,09, p<0,001) are significantly higher in CSU patients than control group. Stress (16.8±6.9 to 13.3±5.4), anxiety (11.1±5.8 to 7.4±5.4), depression (10.9±6, 3 to 7.0±4.7) scores were significantly higher (p<0.05), life satisfaction (22.3±6.2 to 24.9±4.7) scores were significantly lower (p<0.05) in female patients with CSU. Unlike the control group, age and marital status did not make a significant difference on stress, anxiety, depression and life satisfaction in CSU patients.

Conclusions: Dermatological treatment alone is not sufficient in CSU. Patients with CSU also need psychological interventions in order to cope with stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and thus increase their life satisfaction.