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Meditation Speeds the Response of Psoriasis to UV Therapy

It is well known that psoriasis is stress related. Stress can precipitate flares, and continuous stress appears to reduce the response to therapy. In this study, 37 patients with psoriasis were randomized to receive ultraviolet B or PUVA phototherapy alone or in addition to a program of audiotapes designed to increase "mindfulness." The tapes instructed patients to become more aware of their breathing and other body sensations and encouraged them to visualize the UV light slowing down the growth and division of their skin cells. Patients listened to the tapes during the phototherapy sessions.

Only 23 patients completed the study. Among patients who received UVB phototherapy, the median time to lesion clearing was 84 days for those who listened to tapes and 98 days for controls, not a significant difference. Among those who received PUVA, the respective median times to clearing were 46 and 95 days, nearly a significant difference. Overall, patients who listened to tapes were 3.8 times more likely to achieve clearing.

Comment: While the number of patients studied was relatively small, the results are encouraging. A brief "mindfulness" meditation-based program of stress reduction delivered only during light treatment increased the rate of psoriasis clearing considerably, and was much more effective with PUVA than with UVB phototherapy. Larger multicenter studies are warranted to further evaluate the role of these relaxation techniques in psoriasis treatment. Whether this technique can improve psoriasis without UV therapy would also be interesting to investigate.

— JS Dover

Published in Journal Watch Dermatology November 1, 1998

Citation(s):

Kabat-Zinn J et al. Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosom Med 1998 60 625-632.

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