Citation

Vélez-Muñiz RDC, Peralta-Pedrero ML, Jurado-Santa Cruz F, Morales-Sánchez MA. Skin Appendage Disord. 2019; 5(5): 293-298.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Karger Publishers)

DOI

10.1159/000497166

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is a nonscarring alopecia with an autoimmune etiology, unpredictable course, multiple presentations, and variable psychological distress. We conducted a cross-sectional study which included 126 patients with AA. A complete medical history was documented using the Severity Alopecia Tool (SALT) to assess the severity of the disease, and the following questionnaires were applied to the participants: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Plutchik Suicide Risk Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) for adults. The Child Dermatology Life Quality Index (cDLQI) and the Birleson Depression Self-Rating Scale questionnaires were applied for children. Quality of life (QoL) disturbance was detected in 77.6% of adult participants, 65.9% of them had signs of depression or anxiety, and 12.8% were at risk of committing suicide. The PSS-14 average score for adults was 24.5. QoL disturbance was detected in 76.7% of children participants, and 6.3% of them showed signs of depression with the Birleson Depression Self-Rating Scale. We conclude that patients with AA could experience changes in their QoL and signs of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk, mainly in the adult population, during the course of the disease. © 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; Anxiety; Depression; suicide; child; female; male; quality of life; depression; major clinical study; psychological aspect; distress syndrome; priority journal; anxiety disorder; cross-sectional study; Quality of life; Article; dyslipidemia; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; atopic dermatitis; alopecia areata; vitiligo; allergic asthma; Alopecia areata; Dermatology Life Quality Index; Perceived Stress Scale; Scalp diseases