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Mizara, Alexandra (2007) Schemas and psychological distress in skin disease: a preliminary investigation into the role of schemas in UK patients with psoriasis and eczema. Doctoral thesis, London Metropolitan University.
Psoriasis and atopic eczema are chronic skin disorders with a disfiguring component that present the patient with many challenges. Studies have already addressed some fundamental questions with regards to variability in the psychological impact of skin disease. Present studies have sought to provide some preliminary understanding of the core cognitive content of skin disorders and the role of schemas in psychological distress in patients with psoriasis and atopic eczema. A cross-sectional design with four groups was employed. Eighty-eight dermatology outpatients (psoriasis n= 55 and atopic eczema n=33) and seventy-six comparison participants (normal n=53 and chronic disease n=23) completed a package of questionnaires. Results suggest that the combined group of dermatology outpatients can be differentiated in terms of schemas and those beliefs are predictive of their symptoms of anxiety and depression. These findings have a clear relevance to the theoretical underpinning of psychological impact in skin disorders and to counselling practice. Implications for the psychological management of skin disorders are discussed. Further studies are needed to investigate the implicating role of schemas in dermatological conditions.
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