Personalizing Psoriasis Treatment and Site-of-Care Decisions

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EP: 1.Personalizing Psoriasis Treatment and Site-of-Care Decisions

Omar Noor, MD, FAAD, discusses the primary challenges in managing psoriasis, emphasizing that treatment adherence is a fundamental obstacle. He explains how patient backgrounds, comfort levels, and scheduling differences significantly impact treatment success. The evolution of psoriasis therapy has provided dermatologists with numerous effective options beyond traditional medications such as methotrexate, allowing for more personalized treatment approaches based on individual patient needs.

Dr. Noor highlights the importance of making a comprehensive patient assessment before selecting biologics for psoriasis treatment. Key factors include evaluating patient access to medications, identifying comorbidities such as cardiovascular issues, and addressing mental health concerns, noting that psoriasis patients have 3 times higher rates of depression than the general population. The decision between self-administered and health care provider–administered biologics depends on patient comfort, dexterity, needle anxiety, and injection phobias.

In-office biologic administration offers significant advantages for specific patient populations, particularly those with needle anxiety, dexterity issues, or injection phobias. Noor explains that patients can easily manage quarterly in-office visits, which improves treatment adherence and reduces patient stress. This approach is especially beneficial for older patients or those with physical limitations who may struggle with self-injection protocols.