Psychological assessment of women with Acne Vulgaris

Background: Studies investigating the possible role of personality and emotional factors in acne vulgaris patients have yielded inconsistent and sometimes contradictory results. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess personality and psychological functioning in women with acne vulgaris and compare them with normal women. Patients and Methods: Forty-seven consecutive female patients aged 15-30 years with acne vulgaris attending a clinic in west of Tehran during January and February 2000 were assessed using the Mini-Mult test, a shortened version of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The results were analyzed using student’s t test. Results: The mean hypochondriasis scale score was greater in the study group in comparison to normal women (P<0.02). The mean depression and psychoasthenia scale scores were greater in patients younger than 22 years in comparison to those 22 years or older (Respectively, P<0.05 and P<0.005). The mean paranoia scale score was smaller in those patients who were treated for acne vulgaris 3 or more times in the past in comparison to those who were treated less than 3 times (P<0.05). Conclusion: Women aged 15-30 years with acne vulgaris used the disease as a tool to attract others attention. Anxiety and depressin were more common in female patients younger than 22 years. Those patients who were treated for acne vulgaris 3 or more times in the past were tough-minded persons who refused to accept others recommendations.