A new study at the University of Manchester will explore if mindfulness practices can help people suffering from psoriasis.
Psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that affects two percent of the population, is currently incurable.
The condition is often aggravated by stress, and researchers believe that regular mindfulness practice can reduce the severity of symptoms.
Over the eight week study, 40 patients will be monitored for the clinical severity of their condition, pyschological stress levels and changes in stress hormone levels.
Professor Christopher Griffiths from the School of Translational Medicine and Dr. Christine Bundy from the School of Community-Based Medicine will lead the study.
“I find that many patients report that their psoriasis worsens during periods of stress," says Griffiths. "I believe that this research will give us an opportunity to assess a new intervention, which may be of direct benefit to patients.”
Mindfulness based therapies were first used at University of Manchester in the 1980's to help people living with chronic pain, depression and cancer.
This is the first study of its kind to examine the clinical, biological and psychological effects of mindfulness therapies with people living specifically with psoriasis.
Read more about the study here.
