Alopecia Areata and Its Association With Anxiety and Depression: A Case–Control Study in Patients Referred to Dermatology Clinics

January 2026 in “ International Journal of Clinical Practice ”

Azar Shirzadian Kebria, Arash Abbaspour Firouzjah, Faezeh Khorshidian, Hemmatollah Gholinia Ahangar

alopecia areata anxiety depression Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale dermatology clinics AA HADS

TLDR People with alopecia areata often have higher anxiety and depression levels.

This study investigated the psychological impact of alopecia areata (AA) on patients, revealing that individuals with AA experience significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to healthy controls. The study involved 70 AA patients and 70 healthy controls, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for assessment. Results indicated that anxiety was more pronounced in patients with a disease duration longer than 6 months, while depression was notably higher in those with severe AA. These findings suggest the importance of routine psychological screening for AA patients in dermatology settings, although further longitudinal studies are needed to determine causality and long-term effects.

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