The first clinical guideline on psoriasis is published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) today.
In the guidance, NICE emphasises the wide-ranging impact that psoriasis can have on patients’ daily lives. Psoriasis causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales and can contribute to low self-esteem, anxiety, embarrassment and depression which may be overlooked by healthcare professionals.
NICE warns that more than a third of patients report clinically significant anxiety and depression, and that the condition can affect participation in social and physical activities, employment and education. It urges GPs and other healthcare professionals to look at the impact that psoriasis has on the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of their patients during every assessment.
"Psoriasis is much more than a skin irritation," says Dr Catherine Smith of NICE. "The condition can have profound functional, psychological and social effects on a person’s life.
"It is vital that GPs and other healthcare professionals recognise these possible consequences when they first see their patients, and that they routinely assess the impact that the disease is having on their daily lives."
She believes this will allow patients to rapidly access the support and effective treatment they need, in primary or specialist care.
The new guideline also calls for all psoriasis patients should be assessed for psoriatic arthritis every year, especially during the first ten years when the risk is highest.
Co-author of the guideline, Dr Natasha Smeaton, explains: "Psoriatic arthritis is rarely seen by GPs but early diagnosis is important because the condition is aggressive and associated with progressive joint damage. There are effective treatments available and so patients should receive these as soon as possible."
Leave a Reply