Identification and Characterization of Alopecia Areata Subgroups Regarding Quality of Life Impairment Based on Demographic, Clinical, Psychological, and Social Factors

November 2024 in “ Psychology Health & Medicine ”

Heidi Willemse, Margot van der Doef, Henriët van Middendorp

alopecia areata quality of life psychological therapies AA QoL

TLDR Psychological therapies may improve quality of life for people with alopecia areata.

This study analyzed 322 individuals with alopecia areata (AA) to identify subgroups based on quality of life (QoL) impairment, using demographic, clinical, psychological, and social factors. Eight subgroups were identified, with varying levels of QoL impairment influenced by factors such as feeling flawed, secretiveness, avoidant coping, and social support. The lowest QoL impairment was linked to low feelings of being flawed and secretiveness, while the highest was associated with feeling flawed and avoidant coping. The study highlights potential risk and protective profiles for QoL in AA, suggesting that psychological therapies could improve QoL. Limitations include its cross-sectional design and fewer male participants, but it benefits from a large international sample and novel subgroup identification.

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Research cited in this study

11 / 11 results

research Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Children and Adults With Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

4 citations , November 2022 in “Frontiers in Medicine”

People with alopecia areata are more likely to have anxiety and depression and a lower quality of life.

research Alopecia Areata: Current Understanding and Management

11 citations , January 2022 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft”

Alopecia areata is a chronic condition causing hair loss, with new treatments targeting the immune system showing promise.

Quality of Life Measurement in Alopecia Areata: Position Statement of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on Quality of Life and Patient-Oriented Outcomes

research Quality of Life Measurement in Alopecia Areata: Position Statement of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on Quality of Life and Patient-Oriented Outcomes

24 citations , June 2021 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Use specific tools to measure quality of life in alopecia areata patients and improve future treatments.

‘You Lose Your Hair, What’s the Big Deal?’ I Was So Embarrassed, I Was So Self-Conscious, I Was So Depressed: A Qualitative Interview Study to Understand the Psychosocial Burden of Alopecia Areata

research ‘You Lose Your Hair, What’s the Big Deal?’ I Was So Embarrassed, I Was So Self-Conscious, I Was So Depressed: A Qualitative Interview Study to Understand the Psychosocial Burden of Alopecia Areata

30 citations , September 2020 in “Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes”

Alopecia Areata (AA) causes significant emotional distress, including feelings of embarrassment, depression, and anxiety, and impacts social interactions and daily activities.

The Psychosocial Burden of Alopecia Areata and Androgenetic Alopecia: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study Among Dermatological Outpatients in 13 European Countries

research The Psychosocial Burden of Alopecia Areata and Androgenetic Alopecia: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study Among Dermatological Outpatients in 13 European Countries

46 citations , August 2019 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

People with hair loss conditions experience more anxiety, depression, and a lower quality of life than those without these conditions.

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

8 citations , October 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

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.

research Alopecia Areata: A Review of Disease Pathogenesis

191 citations , May 2018 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

Alopecia areata is likely an autoimmune disease with unclear triggers, involving various immune cells and molecules, and currently has no cure.

research Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

95 citations , July 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

People with alopecia areata, a skin disease, generally have a poor quality of life, especially if more of their scalp is affected.

research Illness Perception in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata in China

17 citations , May 2016 in “Journal of Psychosomatic Research”

Illness perception affects mental health and quality of life in Chinese alopecia patients.

research Alopecia Areata and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

128 citations , February 2016 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata significantly lowers the quality of life, especially in emotional and mental health aspects.

research Reported Experiences of Persons with Alopecia Areata

43 citations , December 2004 in “Journal of loss & trauma”

People with alopecia areata often experience negative personal, social, and medical impacts, and need psychological support.

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research Serum Zinc Concentration in Patients With Alopecia Areata

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