Communicating Psychosocial Support in Psoriasis Care

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease with major psychological, social, and quality-of-life consequences. This chapter critically reviews evidence on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and related approaches in psoriasis care through a narrative analysis of psoriasis-specific studies, reviews, seminal sources, and policy documents. Findings suggest that MBCT may offer short-term adjunctive benefits for clinical severity, depressive symptoms, itch, and dermatology-related quality of life, but effects are generally small and evidence remains heterogeneous. Research does not establish durable efficacy, universal benefit, or direct anti-inflammatory mechanisms. MBCT should therefore be presented as an optional complement, not an alternative, to dermatological treatment. The chapter proposes a communication and implementation framework centered on health literacy, shared decision-making, stigma reduction, interprofessional coordination, cultural accessibility, safety, and equity. Larger, longer, and methodologically rigorous studies are needed across diverse populations.