[Adherence of local (and general) treatments in psoriasis].

Several studies dealing with adherence of treatments for psoriasis have been published, using various methods, including questionnaires for self-reporting, interviews, counting/ weighting of unused medication and electronic measuring systems that record every cap unscrewing. Adherence to treatments is limited first by prescriptions not redeemed and then by under dosing in up to 95% of patients. The mean measured compliance is close to 50/60% and is lower than the self reported compliance in all studies. Adherence to topical treatment of psoriasis is limited by difficult self-application, greasy vehicle, number of applications, side effects or fear of side effects. Adherence decreases with time, although an increase in frequency of application is recorded before control visits. A better compliance increases the therapeutic effect. The motivation of dermatologists, the type and quality of the prescribed medicine and clear explanations are simple factors that contribute to increase adherence.