Two major research projects are ongoing.
Classical Conditioning in the Pharmacotherapy of Psoriasis: Placebo arms are required in clinical trials in order to evaluate the non-specific effects of drug administration. One mechanism by which these are believed to work is Classical Conditioning. Our hypothesis is that patients exposed to a successful treatment, will subsequently benefit from the administration of a placebo through the mechanism of expectancy. We are conducting a study in which subjects with severe psoriasis will be treated with cyclosporine until remission, at which point we will maintain them clear with significantly lower doses of the drug by interspersing placebo with their schedule of cyclosporine.

Effects of Stress on UV induced carcinogenicity: We have recently shown that psychological stress significantly accelerates the development of UV induced Squamous Cell Carcinomas in SKH mice. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of stress on the biology of the skin, in particular, wound healing, as well as the generation of skin cancer

Publications:

Ibrahim SF, Pryor J, Tausk FA. "Stress-induced erythema annulare centrifugum." Dermatol Online J. 2009; 15(4): 15.

Smith N, Weymann A, Tausk FA, Gelfand JM. "Complementary and alterative medicine for psoriasis: a qualitative review of the clinical trial literature." J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009; 61(5): 841-56.

Sandoz A, LoPiccolo M, Kusnir D, Tausk FA. "A clinical paradigm of delusions of parasitosis." J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008; 59(4): 698-704.

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