Psychological disturbances in patients with pigmentary disorders: a cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Background Data on prevalence and factors influencing psychological burden in pigmentary disorders are scarce. Objective To determine the point prevalence of anxiety disorder, depression and somatoform disorder in patients with melasma, vitiligo and acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation (ADMH). Methods A prospective cross‐sectional study involving 100 patients each with melasma, ADMH and vitiligo with lesions on exposed body parts was conducted in the pigmentary clinic of a tertiary care referral hospital from June 2015 to December 2017. Dermatology life quality index, PRIME‐MD Patient Health Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 and Patient Health Questionnaire‐15 were used for assessment of quality of life, psychiatric comorbidities, depression, general anxiety disorder and somatoform disorders, respectively, and correlated with age, gender, occupation, marital status, severity and progression of the disease. Results The prevalence of anxiety disorder in patients with melasma, vitiligo and ADMH was 11.6%, 21% and 18.7%, respectively. Depression was seen in 12.8%, 27% and 24.1% patients with melasma, vitiligo and ADMH, respectively. Somatoform disorder was more common in vitiligo (17.9%) as compared to ADMH (14.3%) and melasma (8.1%). There were positive correlations between the severity of disease and the point prevalence of anxiety and depression in all disorders. Conclusion A high point prevalence of anxiety, depression and somatoform disorders was observed with pigmentary diseases, especially vitiligo and ADMH. The prevalence of anxiety and depression correlated with the disease severity and activity. Future research involving comparison with the general healthy population is required for a more affirmative conclusion.

Change of the diagnostic distribution in applicants to dermatology after COVID ‐19 pandemic: What it whispers to us?

“…The frequency decline in diseases such as verruca vulgaris, hyperpigmentation, skin tag, melanocytic nevus, seborrheic keratosis/solar lentigo suggested that these diseases do not affect the QoL too much or that such diseases can be ignored during the outbreak. It was reported that melasma compared to vitiligo is less associated with depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders, though it causes more severe impairment of life quality 28 . Unlike hyperpigmentation, the constant frequency of hypopigmented skin diseases suggested that the motivation for outpatient applications is different for each disease.…”

“…It was reported that melasma compared to vitiligo is less associated with depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders, though it causes more severe impairment of life quality. 28 Unlike hyperpigmentation, the constant frequency of hypopigmented skin diseases suggested that the motivation for outpatient applications is different for each disease.…”

<p>Relationship Between Depression and Quality of Life Among Vitiligo Patients: A Self-assessment Questionnaire-based Study</p>

“…12 However, Dabas et al, by using PHQ-9, found that the prevalence of depression among their vitiligo population in India was 27.4% which was higher than that in our study. 36 The reason for this could be that vitiligo lesions might be more noticeable on darker skin color. It should be noted that the sensitivity of PHQ-9 is high but the positive predictive value of PHQ-9 is low.…”

“…Silpa-archa et al previous studies. 36,37 Therefore dermatologists should be concerned and keep in mind depressive symptoms when they detect and recognize the high DLQI score. Coping with depressive symptoms could improve QoL.…”

Melanogenic Inhibition and Toxicity Assessment of Flavokawain A and B on B16/F10 Melanoma Cells and Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

“…Abnormalities of skin tone due to pigmenting disorders results in formidable emotional and social problems [14,15]. The earliest established depigmenting agent, hydroquinone demonstrated strong depigmentation effect [16,17], but also raised the concerns of carcinogenicity and mutagenicity [18], and was known to permanently caused damage to melanocytes [19].…”