Significance of Psychosomatic Factors in the Etiopathogenesis of Alopecia Areata

The study investigated the role of psychosomatic factors in the etiopathogenesis of alopecia areata by analyzing 80 patients using semi-standardized psychological interviews, the Kornel index for neurosis, and the Mahover test. Results indicated varying degrees of neurosis among patients: 35% had low, 50% had medium, and 15% had high degrees of neurosis. Anxiety trends were the most common neurotic trends, followed by phobias, depression, and obsessive-compulsive trends. The most frequent defense mechanisms observed were regression, aggression, and reactive formations. This study highlighted the significant role of psychological factors in the development of alopecia areata.