PSYCHOSOCIAL BURDEN AND LIFE QUALITY IN VENEREAL VS. NON-VENEREAL GENITAL DERMATOSES

Abstract

Background: Any kind of vaginal dermatosis, whether it's a venereal or nonvenereal kind, may have a major influence on a person's quality of life in terms of their physical comfort, mental health, and relationships with others. Many patients suffer from increased psychological discomfort and stigma as a result of these illnesses' sensitive nature and location, which may have a negative impact on their quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this research is to use standardised instruments to evaluate the psychological and social impact of genital dermatoses, both venereal and nonvenereal, and to draw comparisons between the two groups. The participants in this cross-sectional observational research were patients of a tertiary care hospital's dermatology and venereology outpatient clinics. In this study, participants were divided into two groups based on whether they had venereal genital dermatoses (such as herpes genitalis or condyloma acuminata) or nonvenereal illnesses (such as psoriasis or lichen sclerosus). A standardised psychological impact questionnaire and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were used to measure levels of emotional discomfort and life quality. Findings: Patients with venereal dermatoses had higher DLQI ratings, but quality of life was significantly worse in both groups. Due to the stigma and fear of transmission, these people exhibited heightened levels of anxiety, humiliation, and social disengagement. In instances involving chronicity or obvious symptoms, however, individuals with non-venereal diseases also encountered significant psychological repercussions. In conclusion, genital dermatoses place a heavy psychological and social strain on those who experience them. Social stigma and personal shame, however, make venereal diseases more likely to cause mental suffering. In addition to medical therapy, these results highlight the significance of psychological counselling and stigma reduction as part of comprehensive patient care.