Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort study

Ultraviolet rays are known to have positive effect on psoriasis, but the cold climate and latitude in Northern Europe reduce access to the sun. Climatotherapy is a treatment modality where the patient is relocated to a warmer region with a high ultraviolet (UV) index. Young patients with psoriasis c...

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Main Authors: Max Nordgren, Albert Duvetorp
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1458394/full
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author Max Nordgren
Max Nordgren
Albert Duvetorp
Albert Duvetorp
Albert Duvetorp
author_facet Max Nordgren
Max Nordgren
Albert Duvetorp
Albert Duvetorp
Albert Duvetorp
author_sort Max Nordgren
collection DOAJ
description Ultraviolet rays are known to have positive effect on psoriasis, but the cold climate and latitude in Northern Europe reduce access to the sun. Climatotherapy is a treatment modality where the patient is relocated to a warmer region with a high ultraviolet (UV) index. Young patients with psoriasis can be particularly burdened by the disease, and studies have shown an association between psoriasis and mood disorders. Patients who have undergone climatotherapy often report beneficial psychological effects after treatment, but this has not yet been studied. To explore the psychosocial impact of climatotherapy, an observational study was designed. Thirty-four participants (median age of 24 years) underwent 3 weeks of treatment in Gran Canaria (Spain) and responded to questionnaires assessing the psychosocial aspects of the disease. Climatotherapy was associated with significantly reduced scores of HADS, PSS-10, PSQ, EQ-VAS, DLQI, and itch intensity at the end of and at 3 months after the end of treatment compared to before treatment onset. The results suggest that climatotherapy not only exerts effects on psoriasis skin disease but also improves symptoms of anxiety, depression, perceived stigmatization, stress, quality of life, self-assessed overall health perception, and itch intensity. The results can be of use in the decision-making process when choosing a suitable treatment for young patients with psoriasis.
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spelling doaj-art-5d9b9512d36d4d7592a06c95877edf352025-08-20T02:12:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2024-10-011110.3389/fmed.2024.14583941458394Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort studyMax Nordgren0Max Nordgren1Albert Duvetorp2Albert Duvetorp3Albert Duvetorp4Diagnostic Center Dermatology, Malmö, SwedenDeparment of Dermatology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, SwedenDeparment of Dermatology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, SwedenLeo Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, SwedenUltraviolet rays are known to have positive effect on psoriasis, but the cold climate and latitude in Northern Europe reduce access to the sun. Climatotherapy is a treatment modality where the patient is relocated to a warmer region with a high ultraviolet (UV) index. Young patients with psoriasis can be particularly burdened by the disease, and studies have shown an association between psoriasis and mood disorders. Patients who have undergone climatotherapy often report beneficial psychological effects after treatment, but this has not yet been studied. To explore the psychosocial impact of climatotherapy, an observational study was designed. Thirty-four participants (median age of 24 years) underwent 3 weeks of treatment in Gran Canaria (Spain) and responded to questionnaires assessing the psychosocial aspects of the disease. Climatotherapy was associated with significantly reduced scores of HADS, PSS-10, PSQ, EQ-VAS, DLQI, and itch intensity at the end of and at 3 months after the end of treatment compared to before treatment onset. The results suggest that climatotherapy not only exerts effects on psoriasis skin disease but also improves symptoms of anxiety, depression, perceived stigmatization, stress, quality of life, self-assessed overall health perception, and itch intensity. The results can be of use in the decision-making process when choosing a suitable treatment for young patients with psoriasis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1458394/fullclimatotherapyheliotherapyphototherapypsoriasispsychosocial factorsprospective study
spellingShingle Max Nordgren
Max Nordgren
Albert Duvetorp
Albert Duvetorp
Albert Duvetorp
Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort study
Frontiers in Medicine
climatotherapy
heliotherapy
phototherapy
psoriasis
psychosocial factors
prospective study
title Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort study
title_full Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort study
title_fullStr Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort study
title_short Psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis: a 3-month cohort study
title_sort psychosocial impact of climatotherapy in young patients with psoriasis a 3 month cohort study
topic climatotherapy
heliotherapy
phototherapy
psoriasis
psychosocial factors
prospective study
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1458394/full
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AT albertduvetorp psychosocialimpactofclimatotherapyinyoungpatientswithpsoriasisa3monthcohortstudy
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