Facing dual demands, dermatologists must now consider how caregiver stress and mounting drug costs shape the trajectory of psoriasis management. While traditionally centered on the patient, the scope of care necessarily includes the stress faced by family caregivers and the implications of prescribing costly advanced therapies.
The introduction of the FamilyPso tool provides a validated method to quantify the extensive burden experienced by caregivers, exploring both social strain and emotional burden. Through validated metrics, dermatologists can identify families at risk of distress and tailor interventions that support adherence and overall quality of life. Earlier findings reveal that recognizing this stress enhances therapeutic relationships and informs decisions around treatment intensity.Complicating this landscape, recent registry data highlight the financial impact of biologics, with analyses showing that new therapies account for approximately 70% of increased Medicare dermatology drug spending, underscoring how agents like Otezla, Cosentyx and Taltz have driven Part D expenditures upward. This aligns with the earlier spending analysis indicating that biologics for psoriasis dominate recent cost escalations and underscore the need to balance efficacy with cost management.
By integrating caregiver assessment tools and maintaining awareness of drug cost trajectories, dermatologists can navigate treatment decisions that support both patients and their families. Proactive screening for caregiver stress, combined with selection of biologic therapy based on efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, offers a path toward sustainable, patient-centered care in an era of expanding therapeutic options and budgetary constraints.