Role of homoeopathic treatment for symptom management and improving quality of life in severe psoriatic disease

Abstract

Introduction: Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) are the main phenotypes of psoriatic disease. PsA is a chronic inflammatory arthritis, associated with psoriasis that can cause joint damage and can severely impact a patient’s quality of life (QoL). Case Summary: A 21-year old male suffering from PsA for three years presented in the outpatient department. He was previously treated with different methods of treatment without much relief. Clinically along with psoriatic rash, patient reported swelling, pain and stiffness of joints, causing restriction of movement. In addition, patient also presented with ophthalmic and gastric complaints. After a thorough clinical evaluation, Phosphorus in increasing potency (up to 0/12), was prescribed during one year of follow-up. The impact of the disease and its treatment on QoL and the outcome were assessed using tools such as Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and PsA impact of disease-12 (PsAID12). The Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homoeopathy inventory score was also used to assess the possible causal attribution between the treatment and outcome. This case report demonstrates a remarkable improvement of patient’s presenting complaints as well as the improvement in both PASI and PsAID12 scores with individualised homoeopathic treatment.