The Role of Stress in Alopecia Areata and Comparison of Patients' Quality of Life with Androgenetic Alopecia and Healthy Controls

This study aimed to investigate the role of stressful life events in the onset and exacerbation of alopecia areata and to compare anxiety, depression, and quality of life levels in patients with alopecia areata to those with androgenetic alopecia and healthy controls. The study included 31 patients with alopecia areata, 46 patients with androgenetic alopecia, and 45 healthy individuals. The findings suggested that while emotional stress was not definitively shown to trigger alopecia areata, neuroendocrinological studies supported the potential impact of psychological stress on the disease process. The study utilized life events scales, Beck depression inventory, and Beck anxiety inventory to assess the participants.