Depressive and anxiety symptoms in relation to sexual dysfunction in female patients with psoriasis

Background Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory cutaneous disease with worldwide estimated prevalence ranging from 0.9 to 8.5%. Psoriasis has been associated with psychological problems, including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, or suicidal ideation. Objectives To assess depressive and anxiety manifestation in relation to sexual functions in female patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls. Patients and methods One hundred female patients with psoriasis were recruited from the dermatology outpatient clinic of the medical faculty of Beni-Suef University, and 80 female participants were included as a control group. The study was conducted after obtaining the approval of the ethical committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University. All participants were subjected to the following: Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Female Sexual Function Index. Results Patients with psoriasis showed a highly significant depressive and anxiety symptoms and scores on Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively, compared with control group (65 vs. 26.1% and 74 vs. 66.1%, respectively). Psoriasis cases exhibited a statistically significant decrease in all domains of Female Sexual Function Index compared with control group, except satisfaction. Cases with sexual dysfunction showed significantly higher anxiety symptoms and scores (but not depression) than cases with normal sexual dysfunction. Conclusion Patients with psoriasis showed more depressive and anxiety symptoms. Moreover, they showed more sexual dysfunction, particularly on the desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm components of sexual function in female patients. Sexual dysfunction is associated with anxiety but not with depression in female patients with psoriasis.