Objectives: To assess the impact of psychological stressful events upon onset and course of psoriasis and impact of psoriasis on patients' psychological condition. Subjects and Methods: Sixty psoriasis patientswere selectedamong attendantsof outpatientsclinic, Dermatology and Venereology Department, Sohag university and 30 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects served as a control. Results: Exposure to stressors was significantly more among psoriasis patients (51.7%) than control subjects (26.7%). Exposure to stressors was significantly more among psoriasis patients with progressive psoriasis (64.5%) than those who had stationary course (35.5%). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders was significantly higher among psoriasis patients (70%) than control subjects (13. 3%). Depression was the most prevalent psychiatric disorder (61.7%) followed by anxiety (48.3%) and somatoform disorders (13.3%). Prevalence of different psychiatric disorders is higher among patients with severe psoriasis than those with moderate or mild psoriasis. However, differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study supports the opinion that psoriasis is a psychosomatic disease and that occurrence of stress before its onset is present in many cases. Patients with psoriasis may have higher levels of psychiatric disturbance than general population. Course of the disease may be affected by exposure to stressors. However, severity of the disease may have no effect upon prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Recommendations: Dermatologists should consider the patient as a "whole", rather than just what is visible on the skin. An empathic and supportive relationship should be kept with the patient. A Dermatology-psychiatric clinic must be established as it has proved to be a useful way of introducing dermatologists to the psychiatric aspects of their effects, and vice versa