Illness perception, psychological distress, and quality of life in patients with alopecia: a cross-sectional study from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

March 2025 in “ Archives of Dermatological Research ”

Hend Alotaibi, Reem Bin Idris, Ahmed H Alajlan, Abdulaziz A Alghufaili, Maee Barakeh, Shaden Ahmad Alobaid, Norah K. Algarzae

TLDR Negative views about alopecia worsen quality of life and increase anxiety and depression.

This study from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involving 99 adults with alopecia, found that negative illness perception is strongly linked to reduced quality of life and increased anxiety and depression. Androgenic alopecia was the most common type (47.5%), followed by alopecia areata (30.3%). Patients with scarring alopecia experienced higher emotional distress. The research underscores the significant psychological impact of alopecia and suggests the need for interventions targeting illness perception and emotional well-being to enhance patient outcomes.

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research A Retrospective Analysis of Disease Epidemiology, Comorbidities, Treatment Patterns, and Healthcare Resource Utilization of Alopecia Areata in the United Arab Emirates Using Claims Database

4 citations , July 2024 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata in Dubai mostly affects men, often involves autoimmune disorders, and has high healthcare costs, especially for psychological issues.

Disease Burden, Clinical Management, and Unmet Treatment Need of Patients With Moderate to Severe Alopecia Areata: Consensus Statements, Insights, and Practices From CERTAAE Delphi Panel

research Disease Burden, Clinical Management, and Unmet Treatment Need of Patients With Moderate to Severe Alopecia Areata: Consensus Statements, Insights, and Practices From CERTAAE Delphi Panel

April 2024 in “Frontiers in medicine”

Alopecia Areata significantly lowers quality of life and current treatments are inadequate, highlighting a need for better therapies and standardized treatment protocols.

research The Quality of Life and Psychosocial Impact on Female Pattern Hair Loss

January 2024 in “Annals of Dermatology”

Female pattern hair loss greatly affects women's quality of life, causing mild depression and anxiety, and increases medical expenses.

research The Impact of Androgenic Alopecia on the Quality of Life of Male Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study

October 2023 in “Cureus”

Hair loss significantly lowers life quality, especially in young men, with most patients unhappy with treatment effectiveness.

research Diagnosis And Management Of Alopecia Areata: A Saudi Expert Consensus Statement (2023)

August 2023 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

Experts recommend personalized treatment plans for best outcomes in managing Alopecia Areata.

research The Invisible Impact Of A Visible Disease: Psychosocial Impact Of Alopecia Areata

40 citations , June 2023 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

Alopecia Areata causes emotional stress and stigma, but those with severe hair loss may adapt better.

research Evaluation of the Awareness, Beliefs, and Psychological Impact of Patients with Alopecia Areata in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia

May 2023 in “Advances in medicine”

Alopecia areata significantly impacts patients' mental health and quality of life.

research Comparing the Burden of Illness in Patients with Alopecia Areata vs Atopic Dermatitis in the US Population from a Payer Perspective

10 citations , March 2023 in “Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy”

Alopecia areata and atopic dermatitis have similar healthcare costs, but alopecia areata leads to more outpatient and long-term disability expenses.

research Trends in Prevalence and Incidence of Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, and Alopecia Universalis Among Adults and Children in a US Employer-Sponsored Insured Population

75 citations , March 2023 in “JAMA Dermatology”

Alopecia areata and its severe forms are becoming more common, especially among females, adults, and people in the Northeast.

research The Association of Alopecia Areata-Related Emotional Symptoms with Work Productivity and Daily Activity Among Patients with Alopecia Areata

29 citations , December 2022 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

Emotional symptoms from alopecia areata reduce work productivity and daily activity.

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 Prevalence of Hair Loss After COVID-19 Infection in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia

2 citations , September 2022 in “Cureus”

Almost half of COVID-19 patients in Makkah, Saudi Arabia experienced increased hair loss, especially women and those with chronic diseases.

research Quality of Life and the Presence of Depression Among Adults With Hair Loss in the South of Saudi Arabia

5 citations , August 2022 in “Psychology Research and Behavior Management”

Hair loss in South Saudi Arabia adults often harms quality of life and leads to depression.

research Scarring Alopecias: Pathology and an Update on Digital Developments

4 citations , November 2021 in “Biomedicines”

New digital tools are improving the diagnosis and understanding of irreversible hair loss conditions.

research Hair Loss Severity and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Patients Suffering from Androgenic Alopecia: A One-Year Cross-Sectional Study

1 citations , January 2021 in “Clinical dermatology review”

Severe hair loss significantly worsens quality of life.

research Quality of Life Assessment in Patients with Alopecia Areata and Androgenetic Alopecia in the People's Republic of China

32 citations , January 2017 in “Patient Preference and Adherence”

Alopecia affects patients' quality of life, with younger patients and longer-lasting hair loss experiencing greater impact.

research Severity of Alopecia Predicts Coronary Changes and Arterial Stiffness in Untreated Hypertensive Men

5 citations , July 2016 in “Journal of Clinical Hypertension”

Men with severe early-onset baldness may have worse heart artery function and stiffer arteries if they have high blood pressure.

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.