A Study on the Anxiety, Depression and Psychological Symptoms of Patients with Alopecia Areata

Lee, Jeong Hwa; Kim, You Chan; Park, Hyang Joon; Cinn, Yong Woo; Lee, Kyung Gue

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata may causesignificant interference in social interaction. Despite the controversy concerning the existence of specific personality exhibited by patients with alopecia areata, psychological and social factors have long been considered important factors that have influence on the course of the disease.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of anxiety, depression and psychological symptoms of patients with alopecia areata and their relationship between psychological factors and clinical characteristics.
METHODS
Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) and Symptom Check List-90-Revision(SCL-90-R) were carried out on 20 patients with alopecia areata and 20 controls.
RESULTS
1. According to the age and sex distributions of the patients, the majority of conditions occurred between 20 and 30 years of age(approximately 80%), with the mean age being 28. 10 patients were women and 10 patients were men. 2. For STAI scores, the patient group was higher than the control group, 1) State Anxiety: 49.25+/-8.01 vs 40.70+/-6.33(p<0.05) 2) Trait Anxiety : 46.50 +/- 8.41 vs 39.80=6.49(p<0.05) 3. For BDI score, the patient group was higher than control group, 14.90+/-6.89 vs 9.5+/-5.70(p< 0.05), but there were no significant differences between male patients and female patients. 4. For SCL 90 R scores, the patient group was higher than control group-phobic anxiety, psychoticism, somatization, anxiety, depression, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, global severity index, positive symptom total, positive symptom distress index(p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
We suggest there is a relationship between clinical characteristics of alopecia areata and psychological stress.