Perceived Stigmatization among Dermatological Outpatients Compared with Controls: An Observational Multicentre Study in 17 European Countries

    June 2023 in “ Acta Dermato Venereologica ”
    Sylvia van Beugen, Christina Schut, Jörg Kupfer, Antony P. Bewley, A.Y. Finlay, Uwe Gieler, Andrew R. Thompson, Tamara Grazia-Cazaña, Flora Balieva, Bárbara Roque Ferreira, Gregor B. E. Jemec, Lars Lien, L. Misery, S.E. Marrón, Sonja Ständer, Claudia Zeidler, Csanád Szabó, Jacek C. Szepietowski, Adam Reich, Amna Elyas, İlknur Kıvanç Altunay, Franz J. Legat, Vesna Grivcheva‐Panovska, Д. В. Романов, А. N. Lvov, G. Titeca, Francesca Sampogna, Nienke Vulink, L. Tomás-Aragonés, Andrea W.M. Evers, Florence Dalgard
    TLDR People with skin diseases feel more stigmatized than those without.
    This study investigated perceived stigmatization among 5,487 dermatology outpatients compared to 2,808 skin-healthy controls across 17 European countries. Patients with skin diseases, particularly psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, alopecia, and bullous disorders, reported higher levels of stigmatization than controls. Factors contributing to perceived stigmatization included sociodemographic variables (younger age, male sex, being single), general health (higher BMI, lower overall health), disease-related factors (greater severity, presence of itch, longer duration), and psychological aspects (greater distress, suicidal ideation, body dysmorphic concerns, lower appearance satisfaction). The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support vulnerable patient groups.
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