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Background Paeonol is a potent therapy for psoriasis. This study aimed to screen out paeonol-targeted genes in psoriasis and validate the potential of using paeonol for the management of psoriasis. Methods Microarray datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the lesional skin samples and the overlapping genes between DEGs and paeonol- and psoriasis-related genes were defined as potential targets for psoriasis. After being treated with si-ATG5 and pc-ATG5, human HaCaT cells were treated with 100 ng/ml IL-22 and 10 ng/ml TNF-α with and without paeonol. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, Beclin 1, ATG5, and p62 in HaCaT cells were determined using ESLIA, PCR, and Western blot analysis. Results A total of 779 DEGs were identified in the lesional skin samples compared with the non-lesional tissues. The autophagy-related 5 (ATG5) gene was the only gene that overlapped between the DEGs and genes related to paeonol and psoriasis. Cell proliferation, inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β), and ATG5 expression were increased in IL-22/TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT (model) cells compared with control. Paeonol treatment rescued all changes. si-ATG5 transfection increased inflammation and apoptosis in model cells compared with controls. pc-ATG5 prevented IL-22/TNF-α-induced changes in HaCaT cells. Also, si-ATG5 decreased p62 and Beclin 1 proteins, while pc-ATG5 increased them both. Conclusions ATG5-dependent autophagy plays a crucial role in psoriasis. The ATG5 gene might be a therapeutic target for the management of in vitro psoriasis.