Clinical tools and screening

Rates psoriasis severity by scoring redness, thickness and scaliness of lesions, combined with how much body surface is affected. Common in specialist clinics and trials. Further reading.

Estimates the percentage of the body covered by psoriasis. Often calculated using “one patient hand = about 1% of body surface”.

Clinician’s overall rating of psoriasis severity using a simple scale (e.g. clear, mild, moderate, severe). Used in clinics and research.

Patient‑completed tools that capture how severe or bothersome psoriasis symptoms are, often mirroring PASI or focusing on symptoms such as itch and pain.

Combines current disease severity, history and psychological impact into a single score to reflect overall burden.

10‑item questionnaire for adults measuring how skin disease affects daily life, emotions, work and social activities. Further reading.

Child/young‑person version of DLQI, adapted to school and play activities.

Questionnaires completed by patients to capture broader physical, emotional and social impact of disease and treatment.

15‑item questionnaire assessing symptoms and functional impact to help identify possible PsA in people with psoriasis.

Screening questionnaire for PsA that can be used in psoriasis and general populations; covers joint, spine and enthesitis symptoms.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+2

Questionnaire focused on detecting early inflammatory arthritis in people with psoriasis, helping prompt timely referral.

Set of criteria combining joint findings, psoriasis features and radiology to classify a patient as having PsA (used mainly in research but informs clinical thinking).

Composite score focused on peripheral joint activity (tender/swollen joints, pain, patient global assessment, CRP/ESR) to track overall PsA disease activity.

More comprehensive composite index including joints, enthesitis, dactylitis, spine involvement, patient and physician global assessments and quality‑of‑life elements.

Scores five domains of psoriatic disease (joints, skin, enthesitis, dactylitis, spine) to reflect how active PsA is across different tissues.

Treat‑to‑target concept and criteria set used to judge whether a person’s PsA is “well‑controlled” across multiple domains (joints, skin, function, pain, quality of life).

Assesses dactylitis (“sausage digits”) by measuring swelling and tenderness of affected fingers/toes.

Tools originally developed for axial spondyloarthritis; used to assess spinal/axial involvement (back pain, stiffness, fatigue) in PsA.

Measures how much psoriasis/PsA affects work productivity and everyday activities (absenteeism and presenteeism).

Captures patient satisfaction with medication (effectiveness, side effects, convenience, overall satisfaction).