Increased risk of anxiety and coping strategies in patients with selected genodermatoses with cornification disruption

People with genodermatoses face physical pain, social discrimination, and daily life challenges, all of which have an impact on their emotional and psychological well-being. The assessment of anxiety and the development of coping strategies are crucial. This study aimed to compare state and trait anxiety between healthy adults (n = 30) and patients with Mendelian Disorders of cornification (MeDOC) (n = 29). Using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and Coping in Stressful Situations Questionnaire, we compared anxiety levels and coping strategies between patients with MeDOC and healthy controls. Given the rarity of MeDOC, the study group is small, but the findings are highly relevant and can significantly improve patients' well-being. Average or high levels of trait anxiety were significantly more common in the study group compared to the control group (25 vs. 18 cases; 86.2% vs. 60%, respectively; p = 0.0488). It was estimated that the risk of average or a high level of trait anxiety was over 4 times higher in the study group than in the control group (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.1-15; p = 0.0293). High-level emotion-oriented coping was significantly more frequent in the study group compared to the control group (8 vs. 1 case; 27.6% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.0259), with the risk being 11 times higher in the study group (OR = 11, 95% CI 1.3-95.2; p = 0.0288). No significant correlation was found between demographic, social, educational, clinical factors, and anxiety levels or avoidant-distracted coping. Patients with MeDOC have an increased risk of experiencing anxiety. Understanding the emotions and behaviors of patients with this disease is essential for clinical specialists to guide their coping strategies effectively.