Assessment of anxiety and depression in adolescents with acne vulgaris related to the severity of clinical features and gender

Objective. To determine anxiety and depression levels in adolescents with acne vulgaris in relation to clinical severity and gender. Patients and methods. Using a sectional study, the anxiety and depression level was analyzed of 90 adolescents of both sexes, aged 16 to 21 years, who were suffering from acne vulgaris. The study was conducted between February 1st 2008 and January 31st 2009 at the Dermatovenerology department of the Cantonal Hospital “Dr. Irfan Ljubijankić”, Bihac. According to the type of efflorescence, its localization and severity of clinical features, respondents were classified in three groups: the first group consisted of adolescents with mild forms of acne, the second group had moderate forms of acne and the third had severe forms of acne. Evaluation of anxiety levels in patients with acne vulgaris was made using STAI questionnaire (Spielberger’s state and trait Anxiety Inventory) that consists of 20 questions about the essential characteristics of anxiety as the condition, and the level of depression was determined using the BDS-scale (Back Depression Inventory) which consists of 18 items that were used by the respondents to perform self-evaluation of depression level. Results. In the study group there were 54 (60%) female respondents and 36 (40%) male, mean age 17.5 years (range 15.6-20.6). Of the total number of patients with acne vulgaris, nine of them or 10% (4 female and 5 male) had a mild form of acne (first group), 72 of them or 80% (46 female and 26 male) a moderate form of acne (second group) and 9 of them or 10 % (4 female and 5 male) a severe form of acne (third group) (p > 0.95). 1.1% of the respondents had an exceptionally low anxiety level, 13.3% had low level, moderate 76.8% and 8.8% had a high level. 37.8% had distinct signs of depression, the risk group consisted of 44.4%, and a normal value was found in 17.7%. The values of the STAI questionnaire expressed as median (range) in the first, second and third groups were 58.7 (39-70), 57.7 (20-70) and 60.2 (40-70) (p = 0.36), while the values of the BDS scale within the same groups were 13.4 (816), 15.1 (3-29) and 14.4 (7-24) (p = 0.367). Conclusion. The level of depression and anxiety in patients with acne vulgaris is not related to severity and patient sex.