Effects of psychologic intervention on psoriasis: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND

Case reports have indicated that psychologic treatments may have a beneficial effect on psoriasis activity.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to further investigate the hypothesis that psychologic intervention has a beneficial effect on psoriasis activity in a blinded, controlled manner.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients with psoriasis vulgaris were randomly assigned to a treatment or a control group. Patients in the treatment group participated in seven individual psychotherapy sessions in 12 weeks. Intervention techniques included stress management, guided imagery, and relaxation. The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Total Sign Score (TSS), and Laser Doppler Skin Blood Flow (LDBF) of a selected reference plaque was measured in a blinded fashion at baseline (week 0), week 4, week 8, and after treatment (week 12).

RESULTS

Slight, but significant, changes in TSS and LDBF were found in the treatment group but not in the control group. When analyses were performed for both groups separately, the treatment group displayed significant reductions for all three psoriasis activity measures, whereas no changes were seen in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary results suggest that psychologic intervention may have a moderate beneficial effect on psoriasis activity.