Giving patients 'perceived control' over psoriasis: advice for optimizing the physician-patient relationship.

Patients with psoriasis suffer from the effects of a chronic illness. One of the most bothersome aspects of the disease is a sense of loss of 'control.' 'Perceived control' is an important and well-studied psychological concept. The literature on perceived control offers guidance to help improve the physician-patient relationship and outcomes in chronic diseases such as psoriasis. Practical suggestions include the use of materials and other resources offered by patient advocacy groups (such as those from the National Psoriasis Foundation) and the development of a physician-patient relationship that gives the patient a sense of control of their disease.