MENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PREVALENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS: A FIELD STUDY USING THE DASS-21 SCALE AT THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF WESTERN PARANÁ

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the skin, nails, and joints, with significant physical, emotional, and social impacts. Studies indicate that people with psoriasis have a significantly higher prevalence of psychosocial comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, and stress, especially in more severe cases. This study aimed to evaluate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with severe psoriasis treated at an immunobiological outpatient clinic at the University Hospital of Western Paraná and to investigate the relationship between these indicators and the search for psychological treatment. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive-exploratory study was conducted with 15 adults diagnosed with severe psoriasis. Participants completed a digital form that included clinical information, a history of psychological support, the presence of a mental disorder diagnosis, and the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The subscale scores were classified according to established cutoff points and analyzed statistically. The results showed mean scores of 15.2 (SD = 13.9) on the depression subscale, 14.4 (SD = 8.9) on the anxiety subscale, and 22.3 (SD = 11.2) on the stress subscale. Half of the participants showed moderate to extremely severe levels in at least one subscale; six presented with extremely severe anxiety, and four had severe or extremely severe stress. No patient was undergoing psychotherapy at the time of data collection. The subscales showed a strong correlation with each other (r≈0.88), suggesting global emotional distress. These findings highlight the need to integrate psychological evaluation and support into the management of patients with psoriasis.