PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Eleanor J Samarasekera AU - Catherine H Smith TI - Psoriasis: guidance on assessment and referral AID - 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-2-178 DP - 2014 Apr 01 TA - Clinical Medicine PG - 178--182 VI - 14 IP - 2 4099 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/14/2/178.short 4100 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/14/2/178.full SO - Clin Med2014 Apr 01; 14 AB - This concise guideline summarises the key recommendations from the recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline on the assessment and management of psoriasis (CG153) that are relevant to the non-dermatologist. The aim is to highlight important considerations for assessment and referral of people with psoriasis, including identification of relevant comorbid conditions. Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin condition and, especially when severe, can be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. Functional, psychological and social morbidity can also be encountered, and the extent of the disability is frequently underestimated. Importantly, highly effective treatments are available. Appropriate assessment and referral of people with psoriasis therefore has the potential to improve outcomes by correctly identifying the appropriate treatment pathway. Assessment should involve not only disease severity but also the impact on patient well-being and whether the patient has any comorbid conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, which requires rapid referral to a rheumatologist.