Hair Loss And Mental Health: Bidirectional Relationship With Anxiety, Insomnia, And Quality Of Life

This review explores the bidirectional relationship between hair loss and mental health issues such as anxiety, insomnia, and quality of life (QoL). Common types of hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia (AGA), alopecia areata (AA), and telogen effluvium (TE), negatively impact psychological well-being and QoL. Hair loss can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression, with anxiety rates in hair loss patients ranging from 47% to 62% and depression from 38% to 56%. Sleep disorders are prevalent, with an average Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of 5.51 ± 2.93. Women and AA patients experience more severe psychological effects. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) shows a mild to moderate impact on QoL, with an average score of 4.4 ± 4.3. The study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive management, including psychological support and sleep quality improvement, and recommends integrating psychological and sleep assessments with clinical treatment to enhance QoL. Further research is needed to identify interaction factors and develop comprehensive support protocols for patients.