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Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support

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A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Chronic Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 15266

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Dr. Grażyna Bączyk

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Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
Interests: care and functioning of patients with chronic diseases and those requiring surgical treatment; assessment of the quality of nursing care in the field of postoperative pain; the assessment of the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases; surgically treated diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Dorota Formanowicz

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Department of Medical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 8, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
Interests: chronic disorder; chronic kidney disease; obesity; cardiovascular disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The definition of a chronic disease, adopted by the American National Commission on Chronic Illness describes, is as follows: "A chronic disease is defined as a disorder or deviation from the norm with one or more of the following characteristics: a long-term course; their etiology, the course, and treatment are not clearly defined, leave dysfunction or disability after that, require specialist rehabilitation, supervision, observation or care." The most important chronic diseases include cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes, mental diseases, autoimmune diseases, epilepsy, osteoporosis, obesity, multiple sclerosis, chronic kidney disease, and HIV/AIDS.

The consequences of chronic diseases are complex and concern various spheres of functioning. First, they cause increasing discomfort to the patient's physical and mental state, resulting from experienced pain, suffering, progressive limitation, or loss of function. An important measure of treatment effects and patients' expectations is the "quality of life." According to the WHO (World Health Organization) definition, quality of life is an individual estimation of an individual's perception of their life position about the circle of culture and value system, taking into account its aspirations, desires, interests, and standards.

This Special Issue aims to learn about health, social and emotional problems, assess quality of life, and evaluate the need for social and emotional support for people with chronic diseases.

The presence of a chronic disease not only disturbs the functional, physical, and social aspects of life but also evokes negative emotions. This situation causes a decrease in well-being and disturbs the quality of life in all areas.

Research on these aspects allows us to obtain valuable information from patients. This concerns not only the symptoms of the disease and side effects of the treatment but also the assessment of the psychological (well-being), social and spiritual dimensions. The results of research into these specific issues occurring in people with chronic diseases will help to direct treatment and patient care through evidence-based medicine EBM (evidence-based medicine) and EBNP (evidence-based nursing practice).

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Dr. Grażyna Bączyk
Dr. Dorota Formanowicz
Guest Editors

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

chronic diseases
health problems
health-related quality of life
well-being
social support
emotional support
general and specific scales

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship Between Instagram, Body Satisfaction, and Self-Esteem in Early Adulthood

by Cristina Flores Mata and Carmina Castellano-Tejedor

Healthcare 2024, 12(21), 2153; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12212153 - 29 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1490

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of Instagram use on body satisfaction and self-esteem in young adults 20 to 40 years (N = 95). Given the widespread use of social media and its potential influence on body image, we sought to understand how Instagram use may contribute to body dissatisfaction and self-esteem, particularly through quantitative analysis of self-report measures. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design in which the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and additional ad hoc questions designed to assess Instagram usage patterns were employed. Results: The results indicated that greater Instagram use is associated with increased body dissatisfaction (p = 0.005), although it did not significantly affect self-esteem (p = 0.211). Gender did not play a significant role in these relationships (p = 0.173). Notably, a significant positive correlation was found between body satisfaction and self-esteem, showing that individuals with higher body satisfaction also reported higher self-esteem (p < 0.001). Further analyses indicated that users exposed to appearance-centered content were more likely to report body dissatisfaction. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Instagram usage, particularly in the context of appearance-focused content, has a considerable impact on body dissatisfaction among young adults but does not appear to influence self-esteem. This highlights the importance of developing interventions focused on promoting healthy social media habits and critical content engagement to mitigate negative impacts on body image. Social media exposure should be a key component in future interventions designed to improve body image and overall psychological well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

9 pages, 209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Factors Associated with Unplanned Hospitalization Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents: A Retrospective Study in Central Taiwan

by Chiu-Hsiang Lee, Yu-An Chen, Chiu-Ming Yang, Kuang-Hua Huang, Tung-Han Tsai, Yuanmay Chang and Shwn-Huey Shieh

Healthcare 2024, 12(20), 2069; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12202069 - 17 Oct 2024

Viewed by 621

Abstract

Most residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are patients with chronic diseases requiring long-term care. Unplanned hospitalization of older and frailer residents from LTCFs reduces their mobility and increases the number of infections, complications, and falls that might lead to severe disability or death. This study aimed to identify the critical risk factors associated with unplanned hospitalization among LTCF residents in Taiwan, providing insights that could inform better care practices in similar settings globally. A retrospective study was conducted using inpatient data from a medical center in central Taiwan, covering the period from 2011 to 2019. A total of 1220 LTCF residents were matched with general patients using propensity score matching. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with unplanned hospitalization, controlling for relevant variables. LTCF residents had a significantly higher risk of unplanned hospitalization compared to general patients (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.21–1.73). Key risk factors included advanced age (≥85 years, OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.02–1.54), the presence of comorbidities such as diabetes (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.03–1.33) and renal failure (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.42–1.86), high fall risk (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.30–3.10), and being bedridden (OR = 6.55, 95% CI = 5.48–7.85). The presence of a tracheostomy tube also significantly increased hospitalization risk (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.15–2.59). LTCF residents are at a higher risk of unplanned hospitalization, particularly those with specific comorbidities, physical limitations, and indwelling medical devices. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to manage these risks, potentially improving care outcomes for LTCF residents globally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

24 pages, 1538 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Understanding Ethical Concerns Involving Vulnerable Human Participant Populations in Medical Research: Mixed-Method Analysis of Liberian Ebola Survivors’ Experiences in PREVAIL I–VII

by Jessi Hanson-DeFusco, Decontee Davis, Meghana Bommareddy and Zainab Olayemi Olaniyan

Healthcare 2024, 12(19), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12191989 - 5 Oct 2024

Viewed by 730

Abstract

Background: As the number of large-scale outbreaks continues to rise worldwide, clinical trials are increasingly engaging disease-affected peoples within the Minority World (nations with over 80% poverty rates). Yet global health research inadequately addresses potential ethical issues of including impoverished, disease-affected populations and their contextual vulnerabilities in medical research. Objective: This paper presents a mixed-method analysis from our 2022 semi-structured survey capturing the experiences of Liberian Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) survivors serving as study participants in the Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL) clinical trials. Methods: Firstly, we conducted an extensive literature review of the scholarship related to biomedical research and ethical standards protecting study participants to inform our survey method and design. Applying a theoretical framework on vulnerability, we then qualitatively explored the survey responses of 19 EVD survivors’ perceptions and experiences taking part in PREVAIL, including their expectations, treatment, delivered benefits, and quality of care. We further quantitatively codified their statements for underlying themes of reported negative experiences against standard ethical regulations in biomedical research, conducting a statistical analysis to inform generalizability. Most of the 19 survivors reported facing extreme ongoing vulnerabilities related to their disease status, including physical impairments, psychosocial stress, and socio-economic inequity. Results: Initially, the survivors tended to experience a sense of hope and pride in volunteering for PREVAIL. One in five participants reported benefiting from PREVAIL’s regular medical diagnoses. However, most of their survey responses indicated prevalent negative shared experiences, including continually being confused or misinformed of their study participant rights, roles, and benefits; being burdened by heavy participation transaction costs; and repeated incidents of poor treatment and discrimination by PREVAIL staff after initial recruitment. PREVAIL participant satisfaction ranking is negatively correlated with receiving insufficient financial compensation (r = −0.51), extensive time requirements for each medical visit (−0.40), and being poorly treated by clinical staff (−0.67). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

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12 pages, 1036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perceived Well-Being among Adults with Diabetes and Hypertension: A National Study

by Leona Yuen-Ling Leung, Hon-Lon Tam, Isaac Sze-Him Leung, Alex Siu-Wing Chan, Yueheng Yin, Xiubin Zhang, Aimei Mao and Pak-Leng Cheong

Healthcare 2024, 12(8), 844; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12080844 - 16 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1697

Abstract

Perceived health and distresses are associated with the practice of lifestyle modifications, which increases the risk of diabetes and hypertension-related complications. This study aimed to define the characteristics and distribution of perceived health and distresses across the states between people with diabetes and hypertension. Data were derived from a national survey of US adults aged ≥18 years who were interviewed via phone call. Perceived health and distresses were assessed through corresponding questions. An amount of 333,316 respondents (43,911 with diabetes and 130,960 with hypertension) were included in the analysis; 61.8% of people with diabetes and 74.5% of people with hypertension reported having good or better health, while residents in the Southwest region perceived poor health statuses and more distresses. Education level (diabetes: odds ratio [OR] = 0.47–0.79, hypertension: OR = 0.42–0.76), employment status level (diabetes: OR = 1.40–2.22, hypertension: OR = 1.56–2.49), and household income (diabetes: OR = 0.22–0.65, hypertension: OR = 0.15–0.78) were significant factors associated with poorly perceived health among people with diabetes and hypertension, and the use of technology and strategies for policymakers are suggested to improve the perceived health status in this regard. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

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11 pages, 1725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cells

by Katarzyna Krefft-Trzciniecka, Hanna Cisoń, Alicja Pakiet, Danuta Nowicka and Jacek C. Szepietowski

Healthcare 2024, 12(6), 608; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12060608 - 7 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1391

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to examine the impact of stem cell treatment on quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning in women with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Methods: Twenty-three women underwent a single session of autologous cellular micrografts (ACMs). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used before and after 6 months. Results: The AGA severity decreased by an average of 1 point on the Ludwig scale (p = 0.004) after treatment. FSFI scores indicated sexual dysfunction in over half of the women at baseline, but they improved significantly post-treatment for arousal [median (IQR): 4.8 (1.5) vs. 5.10 (0.9); p = 0.035] and satisfaction [4.4 (1.4) vs. 4.8 (1.8); p = 0.025]. QoL scores improved after treatment in psychological health (57.96 ± 19.0 vs. 69.35 ± 14.0; p = 0.031) and environment (72.96 ± 13.4 vs. 81.09 ± 12.6; p = 0.007), but not in physical health and social relationships. No associations were found between the WHOQOL-BREF or FSFI domains versus age and AGA severity. Conclusions: AGA reduces QoL and impacts sexual functioning in women with AGA. The high treatment burden arises from the chronic and progressive nature of AGA, coupled with limited treatment effectiveness. Effective treatments for AGA, like ACM, are urgently needed to enhance patient-reported outcomes along with clinical results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

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18 pages, 335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Link between Social Support and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Primary Care

by Izolde Bouloukaki, Antonios Christodoulakis, Katerina Margetaki, Antonia Aravantinou Karlatou and Ioanna Tsiligianni

Healthcare 2024, 12(5), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050544 - 25 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1597

Abstract

We aimed to explore the link between social support and various patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in primary care patients with COPD. This was a cross-sectional study with 168 patients with COPD from six primary care centers in Crete, Greece. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, disease-specific quality of life, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), fatigue, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), phycological parameters, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, sleep complaints, the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, the Athens Insomnia scale (AIS), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Out of 168 patients with COPD, 114 (68.9%) exhibited low levels of social support. Low social support (MSPSS total ≤ 5) was positively associated with COPD symptoms (CAT score ≥ 10) (OR = 3.97, 95%CI:1.86–8.44; p < 0.01), fatigue (FSS ≥ 36) (OR = 2.74, 95%CI:1.31–5.74; p = 0.01), and insomnia symptoms (AIS ≥ 6) (OR = 5.17 95%CI:2.23–12.01; p < 0.01), while the association with depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) was marginally significant (OR = 3.1, 95%CI:0.93–10.36; p = 0.07). Our results suggest that lower levels of social support are positively associated with PROMs in patients with COPD. Therefore, our findings show an additional way to improve the overall health of patients with COPD in primary care by putting social support at the epicenter of actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

15 pages, 1367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Cross-Sectional, Multicentric, Disease-Specific, Health-Related Quality of Life Study in Greek Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia Patients

by Philippos Klonizakis, Noémi Roy, Ioanna Papatsouma, Maria Mainou, Ioanna Christodoulou, Despina Pantelidou, Smaro Kokkota, Michael Diamantidis, Alexandra Kourakli, Vasileios Lazaris, Dimitrios Andriopoulos, Apostolos Tsapas, Robert J. Klaassen and Efthymia Vlachaki

Healthcare 2024, 12(5), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050524 - 22 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1595

Abstract

The assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in thalassemia offers a holistic approach to the disease and facilitates better communication between physicians and patients. This study aimed to evaluate the HRQoL of transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients in Greece. This was a multicentric, cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 involving 283 adult TDT patients. All participants completed a set of two QoL questionnaires, the generic SF-36v2 and the disease-specific TranQol. Demographic and clinical characteristics were used to predefine patient subgroups. Significant factors identified in the univariate analysis were entered into a multivariate analysis to assess their effect on HRQoL. The SF-36 scores of TDT patients were consistently lower compared to the general population in Greece. The mean summary score of TranQol was relatively high (71 ± 14%), exceeding levels observed in national surveys in other countries. Employment emerged as the most significant independent factor associated with better HRQoL, whereas age had the most significant negative effect. This study represents the first comprehensive QoL assessment of a representative sample of the TDT population in Greece. The implementation of TranQol allowed for the quantification of HRQoL in Greece, establishing a baseline for future follow-up, and identifying more vulnerable patient subgroups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

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11 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ageing with Parkinson’s: Identification of Personal Needs in the Northern Spanish Context

by Patricia Solís García, María Souto Serrano, Mª Ángeles Alcedo Rodríguez, Elsa Peña Suárez, Ignacio Pedrosa and Antonio León Aguado Diaz

Healthcare 2024, 12(4), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12040498 - 19 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1009

Abstract

As individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease enter older age, the myriad challenges and complications associated with this condition tend to escalate. Hence, there is a critical necessity to comprehensively discern the perceived needs of these individuals, along with their proposed remedies and essential support requisites. Additionally, understanding the perspectives of their families becomes imperative to formulate tailored interventions aimed at enhancing their overall development, progression, and quality of life. The study’s main objective is to assess the perceived needs of individuals with PD and their family members, propose necessary solutions, and suggest future perspectives. The study encompassed a cohort of 268 participants, comprising 179 individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and 89 of their relatives. A meticulously designed structured interview instrument consisting of 93 items was employed to assess various domains encompassing perceived needs, institutional support mechanisms, essential solutions, and future anticipations. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in health resources, social services resources, obstacles, solutions, and future outlook, with higher mean values from the relatives. Conclusions: The results highlight the most concerning needs in this context. Specifically, those needs related to health resources, social services resources, and future outlook present the greatest differences between the two subsamples, with the family members perceiving more needs. This alignment extended to both the categorization of unmet needs and the requisite solutions envisioned to address them. Suggested improvements include a sociosanitary strategy, stakeholder involvement, and prioritizing flexible home assistance to support older individuals with PD and their families. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

18 pages, 521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality of Life for Polish Women with Ovarian Cancer during First-Line Chemotherapy

by Grażyna Bączyk, Anna Pleszewa, Dorota Formanowicz and Katarzyna A. Kozłowska

Healthcare 2023, 11(18), 2596; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11182596 - 21 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1208

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the worst prognostic gynaecological cancer and represents a grave clinical and social problem. Therefore, the study aimed to assess female patients’ emotional, cognitive, physical, and social quality of life. The study included 100 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer and treated with chemotherapy in a day hospital setting at the Department of Radiotherapy and Gynaecological Oncology at the Wielkopolska Oncology Centre in Poznań. The patients were given a standard treatment regimen: paclitaxel 175 mg/m² in a 3 h infusion and carboplatin at an AUC of 6 (5–7) following Calvert as a 1 h infusion for six cycles administered every 21 days. In addition, standardised questionnaires of the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQOV28 were used. The analysis of the collected material shows that the patients reported the highest level of general health and quality of life at the study’s first stage, i.e., before chemotherapy (mean value of 59.67 points). In contrast, the patients’ lowest level of general health and quality of life was observed in the fourth stage of the study (mean value of 45.04 points). The problem of side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, affected the entire study group and was more troublesome in the final stage of treatment for all patients. In the study’s first stage, the mean score on the nausea and vomiting symptom scale was 16 points; in the fourth stage, the mean score was 40.07. Of the clinical factors, the symptom of fatigue was the most severe health problem for the subjects. The mean score of the fatigue scale in the study’s first stage was 37.11 points, while a score of 70.33 was obtained in the fourth stage of the research. The multivariate linear regression model showed that the lack of professional activity lowers quality of life, especially combined with other side effects of chemotherapy, including hair loss in Stage IV of the study. This study shows that women with ovarian cancer undergoing chemotherapy need exceptional support from psychologists, nurses, dieticians, and physiotherapists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

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Review

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13 pages, 886 KiB

Open AccessReview

Emotional Dysregulation in Anorexia Nervosa: Scoping Review of Psychological Treatments

by Enrica Cogodi, Jessica Ranieri, Alessandra Martelli and Dina Di Giacomo

Healthcare 2024, 12(14), 1388; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141388 - 11 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1533

Abstract

Eating disorders are complex psychiatric disorders characterized by compensatory and restrictive behavior and a preoccupation with one’s body. Eating and purging behaviors are considered dysfunctional emotional regulation strategies. Therefore, psychological treatment is essential. The most common psychological interventions are dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy (FBT), multi-family group therapy (MFTG) and mentalization-based treatment (MBT). The aim of this study was to summarize the current evidence on the impact of psychological treatments on emotional regulation difficulties and psychological symptoms in patients with eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa. A search was conducted on PubMed and Web of Science using the terms “anorexia nervosa” and “emotion dysregulation”. Of the 278 initial articles, we included 15 publications. The results indicate that the acquisition of coping strategies, through DBT, leads to an improvement in anxiety and alexithymia. DBT, CBT and MBT lead to a reduction in the use of dysfunctional emotional regulation strategies too. Eating disorders involve both physical and mental health; therefore, it is desirable for future research to focus on the mutual synergy between the mental and physical components by evaluating various factors, such as biomarkers and the most appropriate therapeutic approach, with respect to the treatment setting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

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13 pages, 455 KiB

Open AccessReview

Do Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis Have an Impact on Cognitive Decline—Latest Research Review

by Marcin Kuryłło and Ewa Mojs

Healthcare 2024, 12(12), 1170; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12121170 - 10 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1240

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are chronic skin diseases that affect the mental health of patients. The relationship between AD and psoriasis and cognitive processes in patients remains unclear. The aim of the review was to answer the question of whether AD and psoriasis have an impact on cognitive decline in patients. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and EBSCO to identify case–control, cross-sectional, or cohort studies that evaluated the association between atopic dermatitis and psoriasis and cognitive impairment. Results: Most of the studies included in the review confirmed cognitive decline in patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Conclusions: It seems that atopic dermatitis and psoriasis may negatively affect cognitive processes such as working memory, concentration, attention, and speed of motor reactions. Psychological interventions targeting distorted cognitive processing could improve the quality of life of patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Social Problems and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Diseases, Quality of Life, and the Need for Emotional and Social Support)

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