Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Dermatology
Date Submitted: Sep 30, 2021
Date Accepted: Feb 19, 2022
Date Submitted to PubMed: Aug 26, 2023
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Understanding the Experiences of Anger in the Onset and Progression of Psoriasis: A Qualitative Study Using Social Media
ABSTRACT
Background:
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, which can be affected by stress. Living with psoriasis can trigger negative emotions, which may influence quality of life.
Objective:
This study explored the experiences of people with psoriasis with attention to the potential role of anger in the onset and progression of the chronic skin condition.
Methods:
Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with twelve participants (n=5 females, n=7 males) recruited online from an advert on a patient charity’s social media platforms. Data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results:
Four key themes were identified: (1) ‘I get really angry with the whole situation:’ anger at the self and others, (2) the impact of anger on psoriasis: angry skin, (3) shared experiences of distress, and (4) moving past anger to affirmation.
Conclusions:
Findings suggest that anger can have a perceived impact on psoriasis through contributing to sensory symptoms and unhelpful coping cycles and point to a need for enhanced treatment with more psychological support. The findings also highlight the continued stigma which exists for people living with skin conditions and how this may contribute to, and sustain, anger for those individuals. Future research could usefully focus on developing targeted psychosocial interventions to promote healthy emotional coping with psoriasis.
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