Awareness, Beliefs, And Psychological Impact Of Patients With Alopecia Areata In Saudi Arabia: A Multi-Center Study

December 2024 in “ Patient Preference and Adherence ”

Nasser Almulhim, Heba Y Alojail, Mohammed Aljughayman, Fatimah Almarri, Norah Hamad Alsultan, Latifah A Albash, Sara Khalid Almukhaimar, Ali Alkhamis, Mohammed A Albaqshi, Amnah Ali Alkhawajah

alopecia areata psychological impact quality of life treatment effectiveness

Studysummary In this study, despite most patients recognizing alopecia areata as serious and adhering to treatment, psychological well-being remained adversely affected by the disease, highlighting the need for larger studies to better address these psychological impacts.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study on alopecia areata (AA) in Saudi Arabia reveals that while patients often rate their knowledge of the condition as low, they generally understand its seriousness and the necessity for treatment. The psychological well-being of patients is significantly affected by the severity of AA, the quality of life, the duration of the disease, and the effectiveness of treatments. Despite improvements in AA status and good compliance with medication, patients continue to experience adverse psychological effects. This underscores the need for larger studies to gain a deeper understanding and develop strategies to address these psychological challenges.

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Research cited in this study

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research Diagnosis And Management Of Alopecia Areata: A Saudi Expert Consensus Statement (2023)

August 2023 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

This consensus statement from Saudi Arabia outlines evidence- and experience-based recommendations for diagnosing and managing alopecia areata, focusing on severity assessment, prognostic indicators, and therapeutic options, with special attention to pediatric patients and uncommon cases.

Scalp Hair Regrowth Is Associated With Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Severe Alopecia Areata: Results From Two Randomized Controlled Trials

research Scalp Hair Regrowth Is Associated With Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Severe Alopecia Areata: Results From Two Randomized Controlled Trials

3 citations , June 2023 in “Journal of dermatological treatment”

This study found that patients with severe alopecia areata who experienced meaningful scalp hair regrowth showed greater improvements in health-related quality of life and reduced anxiety and depression compared to those with no or minimal regrowth.

research The Invisible Impact Of A Visible Disease: Psychosocial Impact Of Alopecia Areata

40 citations , June 2023 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

This study found that the emotional impact of alopecia areata is significant, but it may not correlate directly with the extent of hair loss since some individuals adapt to the condition.

research Evaluation of the Awareness, Beliefs, and Psychological Impact of Patients with Alopecia Areata in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia

May 2023 in “Advances in medicine”

In this study, Alopecia Areata patients were generally knowledgeable about their condition, believed it was due to genetic or health factors, and experienced significant anxiety and depression affecting their quality of life.

research Trends in Prevalence and Incidence of Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, and Alopecia Universalis Among Adults and Children in a US Employer-Sponsored Insured Population

75 citations , March 2023 in “JAMA Dermatology”

This study reported that the prevalence of alopecia areata in the US slightly increased from 0.199% to 0.222% between 2016 and 2019, with higher rates observed in women and adults.

research The Association of Alopecia Areata-Related Emotional Symptoms with Work Productivity and Daily Activity Among Patients with Alopecia Areata

29 citations , December 2022 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

This study reported that patients with alopecia areata experienced significant increases in work productivity loss and activity impairment due to worsening emotional symptoms, highlighting a need for better treatments.

research Prevalence of Alopecia and Its Contributing Factors Among Primary Healthcare Attendees in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

4 citations , October 2021 in “Journal of family medicine and primary care”

This study found that 66.3% of primary healthcare center attendees in the Jazan region reported experiencing hair loss, with the majority being female and most commonly identifying telogen effluvium.

research Patient Perspectives of the Social, Emotional and Functional Impact of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Literature Review

67 citations , March 2021 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

This review discusses the substantial impact of alopecia areata on patients' health-related quality of life, highlighting issues such as personality changes, emotional and social difficulties, and a common occurrence of alexithymia, and emphasizes the need for more specific assessment tools.

‘You Lose Your Hair, What’s the Big Deal?’ I Was So Embarrassed, I Was So Self-Conscious, I Was So Depressed: A Qualitative Interview Study to Understand the Psychosocial Burden of Alopecia Areata

research ‘You Lose Your Hair, What’s the Big Deal?’ I Was So Embarrassed, I Was So Self-Conscious, I Was So Depressed: A Qualitative Interview Study to Understand the Psychosocial Burden of Alopecia Areata

30 citations , September 2020 in “Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes”

This study found that alopecia areata significantly impacts emotional and psychological well-being, relationships, and lifestyles, highlighting the need for increased awareness and effective treatments.

research A Large Cross-Sectional Survey Study of the Prevalence of Alopecia Areata in the United States

63 citations , March 2020 in “Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

This study suggests that the prevalence of alopecia areata in the US remains similar to high estimates from the 1970s, with significant implications for quality of life.

research Epidemiology and Burden of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

144 citations , July 2015 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

This review reports that alopecia areata affects about 2% of people globally and is linked with psychiatric and medical comorbidities, highlighting its significant disease burden.