Factors Affecting the Psychosocial Distress of Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Nationwide Study in Korea

    October 2018 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”
    Hee Seong Yoon, Jung Min Bae, Seung Dohn Yeom, Woo Young Sim, Won Soo Lee, Hoon Kang, Yang Won Lee, Ki Ho Kim, Do Won Kim, Moon Bum Kim, Seong‐Jin Kim, Bark Lynn Lew, Oh Sang Kwon, Chang Hun Huh, Dong Youn Lee, Byung In Ro, Jin Park, Beom Joon Kim, Young Lee, Gwang Seong Choi
    Image of study
    TLDR Many patients with Alopecia Areata in Korea experience anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life, which are often unrelated to the severity of hair loss.
    In a 2015-2016 nationwide study involving 1,203 Alopecia Areata (AA) patients from 15 hospitals in Korea, researchers found significant psychosocial distress among the participants. Anxiety was reported by 10.1% of patients, with 4.2% experiencing severe anxiety. Depression was more common, with 40.9% of patients affected and 9.4% suffering from severe depression. Quality of life was notably impaired, with 30.3% reporting issues in the symptoms domain, 71.3% in functioning, and 81.7% in emotions, with severe impairment reported by 9.9%, 48.7%, and 60.2% in these domains, respectively. Female sex, greater disease severity, and longer disease duration were linked to higher psychosocial distress. The study highlighted that AA patients frequently face psychosocial challenges, including anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life, which are not directly proportional to the clinical severity of hair loss, suggesting the need for dermatologists to address these issues in treatment plans.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    5 / 5 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community Alopecia Areata Question

      in Treatment  2 upvotes 3 years ago
      A user with alopecia totalis, borderline universalis, seeks advice on getting into a Xeljanz trial or appealing insurance for coverage. They experienced significant hair regrowth but are now seeing hair loss again and want to try Xeljanz.

      community mbp alopecia areata or vitamin deficiency

      in Chat 5 months ago
      A 19-year-old male has been using topical finasteride and minoxidil for 8 months with no progress and is considering seeking a second opinion due to potential misdiagnosis. The discussion revolves around whether the hair loss is due to male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, or a vitamin deficiency.

      community Olumiant alternative for Alopecia Areata?

      in Treatment  1 upvotes 1 year ago
      A user with alopecia areata is considering treatment options like injections or Olumiant but is concerned about cost and whether delaying treatment will lead to permanent hair loss. They are seeking alternative treatments that are more affordable for a college student.

    Related Research

    1 / 1 results