Complementary and alternative medicine for psoriasis: a qualitative review of the clinical trial literature.
BACKGROUND
Patients with psoriasis often inquire about complementary and alternative medicine in an effort to do everything possible to control the disease.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to review the clinical trial literature regarding complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of psoriasis.


METHODS
We conducted qualitative systematic review of randomized, clinical trials.


RESULTS
Although many randomized controlled trials were found, both the results and the quality of the studies varied.


CONCLUSIONS
The main limitations were the relatively low quality of studies (as assessed by Jadad scores), lack of inclusion of unpublished studies, and the fact that only one author determined inclusion of studies and assignment of Jadad scores.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a large body of literature in regard to complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of psoriasis. More work is necessary before these modalities should be recommended to our patients.
Smith
Nana
N
Department of Dermatology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA. nanasmithmd@gmail.com
Weymann
Alex
A
Tausk
Francisco A
FA
Gelfand
Joel M
JM
D000529:Complementary Therapies; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic