2007 Volume 117 Issue 12 Pages 1969-1976
In order to evaluate the clinical validity of the self-administered Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (Self-PASI),the patient’s self-reported index for psoriasis severity, we examined associations between Self-PASI and Self-BSA scores with PASI and BSA scores, the physician’s reported index, in 200 Japanese psoriasis patients. Furthermore, we examined the associations between those indices and the psoriasis-specific QOL related index (the Psoriasis Disability Index, PDI) and the comprehensive health-related QOL index (Short Form-36, SF-36). In a results, the correlation coefficients were found to be significant between the patients’ and physicians’ reported indices (0.65 for SAPASI and PASI, 0.69 for Self-BSA and BSA). The correlation coefficients for Self-BSA and BSA were high for the trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities, but were low for the head. The PDI score has a higher association with Self-PASI and Self-BSA scores than did the PASI and BSA scores. However, compared to the PDI score, the SF-36 score had a lower association with SA-PASI and Self-BSA. In conclusion, the Self-PASI has been shown to be valid and useful in clinical practice for Japanese psoriasis patients.