Assessing the Role of Stressful Life Events in the Induction and Recurrence of Alopecia Areata: A Case-Control Study

This study investigated the association between stressful life events (SLEs) and the onset or recurrence of alopecia areata (AA) in 52 patients compared to 51 healthy controls. The findings revealed that patients with AA experienced significantly more SLEs in the year preceding the onset or recurrence of the condition. Changes in sleeping, personal, and eating habits were particularly associated with recent onset and mild/moderate severity of AA. SLEs were also strong predictors of the psychosocial impact of AA, as measured by various psychometric scales. Despite limitations such as small sample size and recall bias, the study suggests a pathogenetic role of psychological factors in AA and highlights the need for a holistic approach to treatment.