A study of anxiety and depression in Vitiligo patients: New challenges to treat

Abstract

Introduction

Vitiligo, a dermatological problem, affects a person's emotional and psychological well being, having major consequences on patient's life. Most of the patients of vitiligo report embarrassment, helpless and low self esteem.

Aims

To study socio-demographic profile and psychiatric comorbidities and their correlation with site of lesion in vitiligo patients.

Methods and material

100 vitiligo patients and 100 subjects as control group who were well enough to complete the assessment were assessed with a semi-structured self designed Proforma, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) to obtain the relevant information. Data so obtained were tabulated, analyzed and conclusions were drawn using suitable statistics (i.e. Chi²).

Results

79% of vitiligo patients were between age 13 to 45 years, 67% were males, 33% were females patients in study group. In comparison to healthy controls, the psychiatric morbidity was found to be significantly higher in the vitiligo group (62% v/s 25%). 37%, 18%, and 7% vitiligo patients suffered from Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, Depressive disorder and Generalized anxiety disorder respectively. Incidence of psychiatric morbidity was higher in patients who had lesions more on exposed body areas.

Conclusions

Vitiligo affected marital, sex life and intimacy. This generates psychological distress and disrupts the social relationship and creates a vicious stress-vitiligo cycle. Among vitiligo cases, psychiatric morbidity was found more frequent in young participants and higher in patients having lesions on exposed body areas.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.