Korean J Dermatol.  1992 Aug;30(4):478-483.

A study of stress and neuroticism in patients with alopecia areata

• Na GY
• Suh MK

Abstract

This study was to evaluate stressful events approximately 3 weeks prior to the onset of alopecia, and neuroticism of patients, by questionnaires to 59 patients and 37 controls. Questionnaires are composed of two parts ; social readjustment rating scale proposed in Korea (Stress Score) and Eysenck's Mausley personality inventory (Neuroticism Score). The results are as follows: 1. By age and sex distributions of patients, the majority occured between 20 and 39 years of age (approximately 80%), mean age was 32.39+/-10.3 years old, and female patients outnumbered male patients by 36:23 ratio. 2. For stress score, patients group was higher than control, 94.80+/-75.7, vs 53.33+/-67.0 (p<0.01). 3. For neuroticism score, patients group was higher than control, 14.39+/-6.6 vs 10.00+/-6.5 (p<0.01). 4. The stress core by sex in patients group was higher in male than female patients, 114.78+/-72.4 vs 80.44+/-75.8 (p=0.08). Neuroticism core was higher in female patients 16.33+/-6.5 vs 11.35+/-5.7 (p<0.01). 5. The comparision of stress score between male patients and male controls was higher in patients, 11.478+/-72.4 vs 48.18+/-57.2 (p<0.01), and neuroticism score was higher in patients, 11.35+/-5.6 vs 7.65+/-5.2 (p<0.05). The comparision of stress score between female patients and female controls was higher in patients, 80.44+/-75.8 vs 57.50+/-75.6 (p=0.14), and neuroticism core was higher in patients, 16.33+/-6.5 vs 12.2+/-6.7 (p<0.05).

MeSH Terms

Alopecia Areata*
Alopecia*
Female
Humans
Korea
Life Change Events
Male
Personality Inventory
Sex Distribution
Surveys and Questionnaires