Severity of depression and anxiety in patients with alopecia areata in Bandar Abbas, Iran

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic disease which esthetic outcomes may result in deep effects on mental disorders of patients. In this case-control study, we compared the mental health of 68 patients diagnosed with AA with 68 healthy individuals using Hamilton anxiety and depression rating scales. There were significant differences between the case and control groups regarding the prevalence of anxiety and depression. The means of anxiety scores in cases and control group were 12.76±7.21 vs 8.54±6.37, P=0.003. Likewise, the means of depression scores for the groups were 12.84±4.03 vs 6.22±4.95, P=0.001. Further-more, patients with AA were exposed to depression approximately five times and to anxiety about three times more than normal people. Our study revealed a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in AA patients. Dermatologists should pay more attention on psychological effect of the disease on the patients.

Hair loss vs. emotion: How negative emotions could be increasing your hair loss

“…Similarly, AA patients seem to have experienced more stressful life events when compared to their healthy siblings, indicating a link between stress level and symptoms relating to AA (5). Interestingly enough, the duration of the disease does not seem to be an accelerating factor to hair loss; instead, it has been found that the patient's anxiety and stress levels towards their disease are related to the severity of hair loss that they experience (2,4).…”

“…Since AA is a condition which can be quite traumatizing and psychologically damaging due to the social repercussions that are associated with baldness or thinning hair, researchers have explored this relationship to discover contributing factors to both anxiety and depression within the AA spectrum of severity. Several studies have found that although the incidence rate of AA is equal among males and females, females are particularly susceptible to anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders (2). The reasoning for this is likely the social value that women place on their hair and the societal pressure placed on women to have hair, causing them more stress and trauma when their hair falls out (3).…”

“…In approximately 25% of AA patients in a 10-year study based in Boston, Massachusetts, a significant stressful life event such as a death in the family, family or work stress, or marital problems occurred prior to the onset of the disease (5). Additionally, it has been found in numerous studies that due to the stressful nature of AA, those who have a more severe form of AA (indicated by more persistent and diffuse hair loss throughout the body) are also found to have a higher prevalence of both depression and anxiety, indicating that stressful life events may accelerate the onset of AA (2,4). Similarly, AA patients seem to have experienced more stressful life events when compared to their healthy siblings, indicating a link between stress level and symptoms relating to AA (5).…”

“…Alopecia Areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects hair follicles, causing marked hair loss on the scalp and body (1,2). Globally, it affects 0.2% of individuals (3,4), has a lifetime prevalence of 2% (4), and accounts for up to 2% of dermatology patients (1).…”

“…Globally, it affects 0.2% of individuals (3,4), has a lifetime prevalence of 2% (4), and accounts for up to 2% of dermatology patients (1). The disease occurs equally within both sexes and affects individuals of all ages (2,4). Although the etiology of AA is not known, there are various factors that may play a role in its occurrence and severity, including immune system dysfunction, genetic, and psychological factors (1).…”