Relapses of psoriasis can be related to anxiety and depression. One of the worst cases of psoriasis I have ever seen was in a forty year old man who was very distressed by a sudden unexpected death within his own family. His psoriasis had not been troubling him too much for many years and his major relapse began a short while after the death. The reverse relationship can also happen. Some psoriasis sufferers can become depressed given the long-term nature of the condition and its tendency for remission and relapse. There is also a well-established connection between joint problems and psoriasis with some sufferers developing a form of arthritis that we refer to as psoriatic arthropathy. In some cases the actual arthritis can be more problematic than the skin condition. For a more complete discussion on this topic you might like to read our series of special features on psoriasis at http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/psor/