Psychologic distress in polymorphous light eruption and its relationship to patients' beliefs about their condition

Background: Skin disease can cause psychologic difficulties, but information is lacking on the emotional impact of the common photosensitivity condition, polymorphous light eruption (PMLE). Objective: We sought to examine the emotional impact of PMLE, and its relationships with patients' beliefs about their PMLE and health-related variables. Methods: Patients with PMLE who had attended a hospital dermatology department were mailed the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised during the summers of 2002 to 2004. Results: Questionnaires were returned by 150 of 302 patients. Emotional distress attributable to PMLE was found in more than 40% of individuals. The emotional impact of PMLE was principally predicted by patients' beliefs about their condition (>50% of the variance), particularly regarding its consequences, whereas health-related variables played a lesser role. Women associated more severe consequences with their PMLE (z = -2.27, P = .02) and were more emotionally distressed (z = -2.17, P = .03) than men. Limitations: Hospital-based patients with PMLE may not be representative of the community. Conclusions: Psychologic factors should receive greater attention in PMLE management.