Depression and quality of life in Iranian patients with Alopecia Areata

Background: Alopecia Areata (AA) is a skin disease which affects 0.2 % of general population. Unlike its little physical impairment, Alopecia areata causes a lot of cosmetic problems but most clinicians do not pay attention to mood disorders and the impaired quality of life as the consequences of disease. Objectives: To evaluate depression and quality of life in Iranian patients with Alopecia areata . Methods: From January 2009 until January 2010 one hundred alopecia areata patients who were randomly selected (through simple random selection) from the outpatient clinic of Razi Hospital were asked to answer valid and reliable instruments such as Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), SF-36 and DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index) questionnaires. Results: The mean scores of BDI, SF-36and DLQI of the patients were 14.4±9.7, 68.04 ±15.1 and 6.4±5.5, respectively. The BDI score was significantly different between male and female participants (F=18.1 ±11.2 vs. M=12.7±8.5, p=0.01) but SF -36 and DLQI scores did not significantly differ between the two gender groups. Duration of the disease, BDI and age had no significant correlation with DLQI scores. Patients with extensive beard involvement had the highest BDI score and the lowest SF-36 score. Conclusion: mood disorders should be considered in Alopecia areata patients to address the risk of markedly impaired quality of life