A patient with porphyria can have a poor quality of life (QOL) depending on the severity of the disease.
Factors that may affect the patient's quality of life:
(1) anxiety and depression
(2) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to acute attacks
(3) other neuropsychiatric issues
(4) failure to secure or loss of employment
(5) disfigurement in sun-exposed skin, especially the face
(6) pain or discomfort (abdominal, other)
(7) disability (impaired mobility, problems with self-care)
(8) delay in diagnosis
(9) impact of comorbid conditions (liver disease, etc)
(10) social and family problems
(11) need to avoid factors that may precipitate an acute attack
