Assessment of the level of anxiety-depressive disorders, quality of life, and therapy adherence in patients with plaque psoriasis

Abstract

Relevance. The treatment of moderate and severe psoriasis poses significant challenges in clinical practice. This article is devoted to the analysis of real-world clinical practice in the treatment of plaque psoriasis, factors causing relapses of plaque psoriasis, the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders, and the assessment of the quality of life of patients with psoriasis using various systemic medications among patients who were observed in dermatovenereological dispensaries of the Central Federal District during the period 2022–2023.Objectives. To determine the optimal drug therapy for patients with plaque psoriasis based on comprehensive pharmacoepidemiological, clinical, compliance, and medication adherence assessments.Materials and methods. Retrospective comparative analysis of the medical records of 336 patients with plaque psoriasis (L40.0), moderate and severe. Two comparison groups: Group I — 166 patients receiving methotrexate and Group II — 170 patients receiving genetically engineered drugs. Patients were surveyed by physicians to confirm their therapy compliance. The levels of anxiety and depression were assessed using the HADS scale, and quality of life was assessed using the dermatological quality of life index — DLQI.Results. The highest rate of adherence to therapy (>80%) was recorded in the group of patients undergoing therapy with genetically engineered drugs and who had a high level of anxiety (r=0.202, p<0.05). In the group of patients with average adherence to the applied genetic engineering therapy (30–80%), a higher level of anxiety was associated with reduced adherence to treatment (r=–0.202, p<0.05). Average adherence to methotrexate (r =–0.249, p<0.05).Conclusions. An increased level of anxiety in patients undergoing therapy with genetically engineered drugs increased their adherence to treatment (r=0.202, p<0.05). The worse the quality of life of patients undergoing therapy with genetically engineered drugs, the less adherence.