Development of the Pruritus-Associated Stress Scale: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis, Chronic Prurigo and Chronic Pruritus on Non-Lesional Skin

BackgroundA significant relationship exists between perceived stress and the exacerbation and perpetuation of chronic pruritic dermatoses. Despite this, there is a notable absence of validated tools to specifically measure pruritus-associated stress. ObjectiveTo develop and pilot the Pruritus-Associated Stress Scale (PASS), a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for assessing pruritus-associated stress. Patients and MethodsPatients with chronic prurigo (CPG), atopic dermatitis (AD), and chronic pruritus on non-lesional skin (CPNL) were recruited at a German university centre. They were interviewed on pruritus-associated stress, and perceived stress using the PSS-10 and PSQ-30 questionnaires, to compile the first PASS version in accordance with the guidelines for PROM development. Subsequently, a second patient cohort was interviewed to refine the items of the PASS instrument based on impact analysis, interitem and item-total correlation, and internal consistency reliability. ResultsOf 55 patients (15 with AD, 20 with CPG, and 20 with CPNL; 61.8% female; mean age 61.0 {+/-} 15.4 years), who participated in the item selection phase, 94.5% reported pruritus-associated stress in the previous two weeks. The preliminary PASS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha = 0.91). The twelve items that showed strong impact scores addressed nervousness, therapeutic strategies for managing pruritus-associated stress, fatigue, and urges to scratch more frequently or intensely due to pruritus. ConclusionsThis pilot study yielded a preliminary PASS, identified poorly performing items, and collected information for further refinement. As a next step, retaining the full item pool, an exploratory factor analysis will be conducted in a larger sample. SIGNIFICANCEThis study addresses a critical gap in dermatological research by developing and piloting the first questionnaire specifically designed to assess pruritus-associated stress in patients with chronic pruritus of diverse aetiologies.