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Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment

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Abstract

Background

Psoriasis is a multisystem chronic inflammatory disorder that is thought to be associated with cognitive impairment.

Aims

We aimed to investigate cognitive performance using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in patients with psoriasis.

Methods

In total, 77 patients with psoriasis and 83 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. Physical and/or histopathological findings were used to diagnose psoriasis vulgaris, and patients with psoriasis were evaluated according to disease characteristics, including duration, severity, onset age, medical treatment, and cosmetic involvement. All participants provided sociodemographic data and completed the Beck Depression Inventory. Cognitive functions were evaluated using the MoCA tool.

Results

The MoCA scores were significantly lower in the psoriasis group than in the control group (p = 0.004). More psoriasis patients than control subjects presented with deficits in visuospatial domain (p = 0.037) and executive functioning (p = 0.010). In the multivariate model, the presence of psoriasis (odds ratio [OR] 3.64; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.65–8.02; p = 0.001), education level (3.74; 95 % CI 1.65–8.48; p = 0.002), and area of residence (3.56; 95 % CI 1.61–7.87; p = 0.002) were found to be independently associated with cognitive impairment in patients with psoriasis and control subjects. On the other hand, no correlations were observed between disease characteristics and cognitive impairment in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The results suggest that psoriasis patients might have early or subtle cognitive impairment, including visuospatial domain and executive functioning.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mrs. Nural Erbil for her assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Bozok University, School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey

    Emine Colgecen

  2. Department of Neurology, Bozok University, School of Medicine, 66200, Yozgat, Turkey

    Asuman Celikbilek

  3. Department of Psychology, Bozok University, School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey

    Dudu Taslak Keskin

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  1. Emine Colgecen
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Correspondence to Asuman Celikbilek.

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Emine Colgecen, Asuman Celikbilek and Dudu Taslak Keskin have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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No sources of funding were used to conduct this study or prepare this manuscript.

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Colgecen, E., Celikbilek, A. & Keskin, D.T. Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Am J Clin Dermatol 17, 413–419 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-016-0187-3

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