[Psychological consequences of chronic hair diseases].

The document reviewed the psychological consequences of chronic hair diseases, highlighting that these effects depended on individual coping skills and personality traits. Hair loss significantly impacted quality of life, akin to severe psoriasis, primarily through loss of self-confidence, especially in those with insecure attachment patterns. Psychiatric conditions like body dysmorphic syndrome and trichotillomania were associated with hair diseases. Androgenetic alopecia caused significant distress in women, while chemotherapy-induced alopecia altered self-concept and body image, often not reverting post-regrowth. Alopecia areata was linked to psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety and depression, with patients often experiencing alexithymia and chronic stress from past events. A systemic approach, including family therapy, was suggested to address underlying family conflicts and improve patient outcomes.