EADV News: Psoriasis Largely Undertreated, Travels with Anxiety

Many aren't even seeing a dermatologist to treat their psoriasis.

Many psoriasis patients remain un- or undertreated, with an average diagnosis time of five years, according to research presented at the 28th European Dermato-Venereology Society Congress in Madrid.

In the study of 650 psoriasis patients in Germany, more than half of patients (56 percent) with more than 20 percent of body surface area being covered by psoriasis were not currently seeing a physician to help with the treatment of their condition. Just shy of half of those prescribed drugs said they do not help treat their condition (49 percent) or have too many side effects (29 percent). Almost nine in 10 of the patients have plaques, with the head and elbows being the most commonly affected areas.

“Despite  psoriasis being a well-known disease,  a striking proportion of patients remain undertreated,”  commented lead researcher Maximilian Schielein.  “Taking more time and finding an appropriate treatment for unsatisfied patients must be addressed to fulfill their needs. In addition, we must not neglect the patients who are dissatisfied with their current treatment and have given up seeking professional help. Reaching out to these patients is essential and healthcare professionals have a duty of care to ensure that everyone with psoriasis receives optimal care

Anxiety in psoriasis patients

Another study, also presented at the 28thEADV Congress, found that more than three-quarters of acute stage psoriasis patients had anxiety disorders, compared to 19 percent of the general population4. When evaluating the degree of anxiety in psoriasis patients, the research found that:

• 33 percent had high levels of anxiety
• 44 percent had average levels of anxiety
• 23 percent had lower levels of anxiety