Neurocognitive Responses in Psoriasis Patients

Imaging in patients with psoriasis shows brain changes that blunt responses to expressions of disgust in others.

Psoriasis can have profound emotional effects. Patients have a disproportionately high prevalence of depression and report a greater emotional impact of their disease on quality of life than patients with cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. In this study, investigators examined neurocognitive responses to facial expressions of disgust in patients with psoriasis.

Reactions of 13 men with mild-to-moderate chronic plaque-type psoriasis (mean PASI score, 5.3 ± 3.6) were compared with reactions of 13 age- and sex-matched controls. Rates of anxiety and depression did not differ between groups. The subjects were presented with neutral, disgusted, and fearful facial expressions during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Compared with contr…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)