Psoriasis Care Failing Patients

New report reveals urgent need for support and psychological care for psoriasis patients; as many as one third experience depression and anxiety ¹

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new report,² ‘Recognising the life impact of psoriasis’ released today at a Parliamentary reception hosted by Paul Beresford MP, Chair of the All Parliamentary Group on Skin (Skin APPG), has unveiled an urgent need for multi-disciplinary care for people suffering with psoriasis. For the first time, the Psoriasis Association has collaborated with the Mental Health Foundation as part of the See Psoriasis: Look Deeper campaign. Along with other leading experts, the collaboration calls for the impact of psoriasis on a person’s psychological wellbeing and overall quality of life, to be better recognised by politicians, the NHS and patients and their families. The See Psoriasis: Look Deeper initiative is funded by an educational grant from the global healthcare company Abbott.

Speaking to MPs from across the country, the collaboration together with patient groups and healthcare professionals, highlighted that the wider effects of psoriasis can go unrecognised by most. Psoriasis is estimated to effect up to 1.8 million people in the UK,³ the multi-faceted nature of psoriasis means the psychological impact of the condition can be just as debilitating as the physical symptoms. Approximately one third of psoriasis patients experience depression and anxiety,¹ with 1 in 10 admitting to contemplating suicide.⁴ However, healthcare professionals tend to focus on the physical symptoms and often overlook asking patients about their psychological wellbeing.

Dr Christine Bundy, a member of the collaboration and Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Medicine at the University of Manchester says, ‘There is often a cyclical link between the physical and psychological impact of psoriasis. The condition can cause emotional distress and worry for sufferers which can trigger a psoriasis flare and impact on progression of psoriasis, so patients can often feel trapped in a despairing cycle as they try to cope with their condition. We need to do more to ensure we are looking out for psychological symptoms and providing people with the condition the full support they need to manage psoriasis.’

The ‘Recognising the life impact of psoriasis’ report outlines calls to action for policy makers, emphasising an essential need for:

• Financial levers and incentives for commissioners to be aligned to multidisciplinary working so that the physical and psychological nature of psoriasis is addressed
• The resources available through changes in the NHS to be used to improve the multidisciplinary care and treatment of people with psoriasis

There is now more than ever, an opportunity to make a positive change for psoriasis patients via the NHS Commissioning Board’s guidance to Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), NICE clinical guidance and Quality Standards and CCG referral pathways. With the cost of mental health services currently reaching £6.6 billion (National survey of investment in Adult Mental Health Services)⁵ – this is a figure that could be increased if psychological wellbeing of psoriasis patients is not addressed.

Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation adds: "The Mental Health Foundation has long called for the better integration of physical and mental health services. This includes routine assessment of the psychological needs of patients, in the light of the strong evidence of the inter-relationship and connection between physical health problems and mental health. It is essential that all staff supporting patients with a primary diagnosis of psoriasis are fully aware of the links between the two and are able to facilitate assessments and, where there is an assessed need, care and treatment that address all their health needs holistically".

The campaign also asks people with psoriasis to talk to their healthcare professional about the emotional impact psoriasis may be having on them, and to insist on help and support when needed.

‘Most people assume psoriasis just affects a person physically, however the affect is much deeper for patients that live with the condition day-to-day. All too often we hear from patients who are struggling with the emotional impact of psoriasis but do not feel able to ask their doctor for help. Some patients suggest that their GPs regard psoriasis as a minor complaint and do not consider the emotional aspects. We need doctors to treat people with psoriasis holistically, recognising the impact the condition can have on one’s life, and we need patients to feel comfortable about proactively asking their doctors for help, knowing that they will be listened to’ says Helen McAteer from the Psoriasis Association.

To support the launch of the report and the See Psoriasis: Look Deeper campaign, patients were invited to submit a postcard addressed to their psoriasis to express how it impacts their daily lives and makes them feel. A creative display of the responses formed a central focus point at the launch event, demonstrating the support for the campaign and a need for change.

The See Psoriasis: Look Deeper collaboration believes that together we can work towards improved holistic care for psoriasis patients. We just need to see beyond the skin and look deeper into their needs.

The full ‘Recognising the life impact of psoriasis’ report can be found at: www.psoriasis-association.org.uk and www.mentalhealth.org.uk

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

• The ‘See Psoriasis Look Deeper’ collaboration comprised representatives from the Psoriasis Association and the Mental Health Foundation as well as involvement from Dr Christine Bundy, a Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Medicine at the University of Manchester and Dr Sandy McBride is a Consultant Dermatologist at Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust.

Biographies

• The Psoriasis Association was founded in 1968 to provide information, advice and support to people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The organisation aims to represent the views of patients at a local and national level with an ever-expanding voice, and to remain aware of the issues that really matter to its membership and to people affected by psoriasis.
• The Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s leading mental health research, policy and service improvement charity. It is committed to reducing the suffering caused by mental ill health and to help everyone lead mentally healthier lives. It helps people to survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems by carrying out research, developing practical solutions for better mental health services, campaigning to reduce stigma and discrimination and promoting better mental health for us all.
• Dr Chris Bundy is a senior lecturer in Behavioural Medicine at the University of Manchester. Chris researches what psychological support works best for people with psoriasis. With the rest of the Manchester team, Chris has developed on-line resources for people with psoriasis in a study funded by the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthropathy Alliance. She designs and delivers training programmes for all dermatology specialist staff to manage psychological aspects of psoriasis. Drs Chris Bundy & Sandy McBride are both members of the British Association of Dermatologists Psycho-dermatology working party led by Dr Anthony Bewley. This multi-professional group aims to identify the service needs and provision for people with skin conditions including psoriasis and improve the training for specialists in Dermatology to better manage psychological and psychiatric aspects of skin conditions including psoriasis.
• Dr Sandy McBride is a Consultant Dermatologist at Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust. She has an interest in the comprehensive management of patients with psoriasis and has set up one of the only integrated psychology and dermatology services in the UK. She was awarded an NHS innovation award to develop the service. Drs Chris Bundy & Sandy McBride are both members of the British Association of Dermatologists Psycho-dermatology working party led by Dr Anthony Bewley. This multi-professional group aims to identify the service needs and provision for people with skin conditions including psoriasis and improve the training for specialists in Dermatology to better manage psychological and psychiatric aspects of skin conditions including psoriasis.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs approximately 91,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott has been operating in the UK for 75 years and currently has operations in Maidenhead, Berkshire (UK Headquarters), Kent, Lancashire, the Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Southampton and Oxfordshire. Abbott employs approximately 2,000 people nationwide.

Abbott's press releases and other information are available on the company’s website at www.abbott.co.uk.

References

1. Kimball AB, Gieler U, Linder D, et al. Psoriasis: is the impairment to a patient's life cumulative? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2010;24:989-1004.
2. ‘Recognising the life impact of psoriasis’ Report. See Psoriasis: Look Deeper. October 2012
3. What is Psoriasis, 2011, Accessed at: https://www.psoriasisassociation.org.uk/silo/files/No1%20what%20is.pdf Accessed: September 2012
4. Eedy D, Burge S, Potter J, et al, on behalf of The British Association Dermatologists and Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit, Royal College of Physicians Clinical Standards Department. An audit of the provision of dermatology services in secondary care in the United Kingdom with a focus on the care of people with psoriasis. January 2008.
5. Mental Health Strategies (MHS) for Department of Health. 2010/11 National Survey of Investment in Adult Mental Health Services. October 2011.