ABSTRACT
Resumen La psoriasis es considerada una enfermedad dentro del espectro de las patologías psicosomáticas. Este cuadro presenta diversas comorbilidades tanto somáticas como psicológicas. Dentro de esta última dimensión, las más prevalentes son los trastornos de ansiedad y depresión. Históricamente se ha asociado la evolución de la psoriasis con factores como el estrés; sin embargo, recientes investigaciones destacan que serían más influyentes aspectos propios de la personalidad del paciente, como la alexitimia, más que el evento estresante en particular. La alexitimia presenta alta prevalencia en pacientes con psoriasis y conforme a diversos estudios se relacionaría con implicancias adversas en el curso de la patología cutánea en lo que respecta a la calidad de vida, percepción de enfermedad, comorbilidades, evolución y vulnerabilidad al estrés.
Summary Psoriasis is considered a Psychosomatic disease. It is associated with several comorbidities, not only somatic but also psychiatric and psychological, such as anxiety and depression. Historically, this cutaneous disease has been associated with environmental factors including stress. Recent studies reported that psychological aspects of the patient such as personality traits, including alexithymia, may be more important in the course of the pathology than a stressor factor. Patients affected by psoriasis and alexithymia may be more vulnerable to stress, and this association would be one of the reasons for the disease exacerbations. There is a high prevalence between alexithymia and psoriasis. In accordance with the reviewed articles, alexithymia is related with poor quality of life, abnormal perception of the illness, somatic and psychiatric comorbidities, worse prognosis and vulnerability to stress influence. The intention of this review is to bring an update of the impact of alexithymia in patients affected by psoriasis.