"PSOGEN:Effect adalimumab op zelfbeeld en seksueel functioneren bij matige en ernstige psoriasis van de anogenitale regio; prospectief, open label pilot onderzoek"

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin of unknown
etiology.About 2-3% of the world population is affected by it. It is
accompanied by heavy psychological burden. Altough psoriasis usually manifests
on knees, elbows and the head, lesions in anogenital region are frequently
seen.There are indications that the experience of sexuality can be nefatively
influenced by it. On assessment of severity of psoriasis this is not taken into
account. It is to be expected that this problem will improve with treatment of
psoriasis. Validated questionnaires exist for evaluation of sexuality, self
confidence and relationships: DS-c (inventory of depressive symptomatology),
SEAR (Self-Esteem and Relationship), IIEF (International Index of Erectile
Dysfunction) en FSFI(Female Sexual Function Index) . They have been designed to
measure the problems we are trying to assess. The PSOGEN questionnaire is
designed by the study team and will show difference in how ano-genital
psoriasis versus psoriasis in other body sites is experienced by the patients.
Also the way in which patients grade the importance of sexuality and intimacy
can be expressed by this instrument.

The objective is to assess the effect of adalimumab on selfconfidence and
sexuality of patients with anogenital psoriasis.

This is a prospective study conducted in two hospitals in Netherlands. It is a
pilot which will eventually lead to a controled double blind trial.

Filling in the questionnares and physical and psychological examination cost
time.
No benefit to patients is to be expected from this study.