>> Clinical Guidelines

Introduction

This guidance for the management of patients with psoriasis is based on a document first produced as a multi-author BAD document in 1996. Since this time the BAD has been developing full evidence based guidelines in many areas that overlap with psoriasis. In addition to  azathioprine and biologicals, full guidelines are being prepared for PUVA, acitretin, ciclosporin and methotrexate therapy. In the interim, it was felt sensible to update the existing document so this can still be useful without being out of date or misleading.

The document is principally aimed at dermatologists, but will be helpful to general practitioners and other health professionals, including nurses. It may be necessary or even desirable to depart from the suggested course in the interests of specific patients and special circumstances. Just as adherence to guidelines may not constitute defence against a claim of negligence, so deviation from the advice in this document should not be necessarily deemed negligent.

Purchasers or commissioners of dermatology services reading this document should pay particular attention to the provision of day care facilities for the outpatient treatment of patients with psoriasis, the provision of inpatient beds for the treatment of patients with severe or intractable psoriasis, and to the provision of the various forms of ultraviolet therapy.

Good quality information for patients helps with decision making, compliance and effective therapy. All important aspects of psoriasis and the relevant treatments are covered in patient information leaflets on this website.

This information forms part of the current BAD guidance document for the general management of psoriasis.  Other sections in the document comprise: