title: National Psoriasis Foundation clinical consensus on disease severity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A task force of the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board was convened to evaluate the current severity criteria of mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis and to make recommendations concerning a 2-tiered categorization of severity based on current clinical practice and related to intent to treat.
  
  
  METHODS
  This volunteer task force, led by David M. Pariser, MD, included Jerry Bagel, MD, Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Neil J. Korman, MD, PhD, Christopher T. Ritchlin, MD, Bruce E. Strober, MD, PhD, Abby S. Van Voorhees, MD, and Melodie Young, MSN, RN, ANP. Meetings were held by teleconference and were coordinated and funded by the National Psoriasis Foundation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This task force reviewed psoriasis severity criteria and other published psoriasis consensus statements. Current standards of care and expert opinion were used to inform the process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on meetings of the task force and under the guidance of David M. Pariser, MD, a statement was drafted by Elizabeth J. Horn, PhD, presented to the task force, and reviewed and approved by the task force. This statement was then reviewed and approved by Robert E. Kalb, MD, Gerald G. Krueger, MD, and Alan Menter, MD. The National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board reviewed and endorsed this statement by a majority vote on March 2, 2006, at the medical board meeting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This clinical consensus statement proposes a 2-tiered system for plaque psoriasis therapy that reflects more accurately than the current system how patients are treated in clinical practice. This statement, focused on plaque psoriasis, is intended to assist medical professionals and insurance payers in understanding these 2 categories of patients with psoriasis and choosing appropriate therapies for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pariser
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bagel
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gelfand
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Korman
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ritchlin
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Strober
authors.forename: Abby S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Van Voorhees
authors.forename: Melodie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rittenberg
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lebwohl
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Horn
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index