The Role of Psychological Factors and Serum Zinc, Folate, and Vitamin B12 Levels in the Aetiology of Trichodynia: A Case-Control Study
October 2009
in “
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
”
TLDR Psychological factors like depression may be more important than zinc, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in causing scalp pain in people with hair loss.
The study examined the occurrence of trichodynia in 91 patients with diffuse hair loss compared to 74 healthy individuals, assessing serum levels of zinc, folate, and vitamin B12, and the influence of psychological factors. It found that 33% of the patients experienced trichodynia, but there was no significant difference in the serum levels of the nutrients between the two groups or between patients with and without trichodynia. However, those with trichodynia showed significantly higher scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire, indicating that depression and somatoform dissociation may contribute to the development of trichodynia. The study concluded that psychological factors might be more relevant than nutrient levels in the pathogenesis of trichodynia in individuals with diffuse alopecia.
