Evaluation of serum oxytocin levels and psychometric variables in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. Genetic factors, infections, hormones and stress play a role in the etiology of psoriasis which characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is synthesized in the hypothalamus and functions as birth, breast feeding, social behavior and attachment are well known. Recent studies have also shown anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of oxytocin may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Psoriasis affects appearance, leads to social stigmatization and as a chronic disease causes stress and disease-related stress can also exacerbate psoriasis. Perception of social stigma and ashamed of their appearance cause social isolation, loss of confidence and low self esteem in patients with psoriasis. As depression and anxiety symptoms play a role in the emergence and exacerbation of psoriasis, psoriasis also leads to the emergence of depression and anxiety symptoms. In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum oxytocin levels and psychometric variables in patients with psoriasis. Our study was performed on 40 patients with psoriasis and 40 healthy volunteers with similar characteristics in terms of age and gender. Serum oxytocin levels were statistically significantly higher in patients with psoriasis compared to the control group (p<0.01). Serum levels of oxytocin was not statistically significant correlation between psoriasis area severity index scores, duration of illness and age of onset of disease (p> 0.05). Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Liebowitz Social Phobia Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and Anxiety Sensitivity Index scores were statistically significantly higher in patients with psoriasis compared to the control group (p <0.01). Serum levels of oxytocin was not statistically significant correlation between psychometric variables (p> 0.05). Finally, elevation of serum levels of oxytocin in psoriasis group suggests that oxytocin may have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. High levels of anxiety, depression, social anxiety, perceived stress and anxiety sensitivity in patients with psoriasis compared to the control group is noteworthy to the predisposing, precipitating and maintaining effects of psychogenic factors in psoriasis. We suggest that further studies should be done to better understand the relationship between oxytocin, psychological variables and psoriasis. Keywords: Psoriasis, Oxytocin, Psoriasis Area Severity Index, Psychometric Variabilities