Mental Health in Visible Skin Disorders: Assessing Anxiety and Depression in Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata Patients Compared to Healthy Peers
August 2025
in “
Libyan Medical Journal
”
TLDR People with vitiligo or alopecia areata have higher anxiety and depression than healthy people.
The study assessed anxiety and depression levels in 150 participants, including 50 with vitiligo, 50 with alopecia areata, and 50 healthy controls, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results indicated that both patient groups exhibited significantly higher anxiety and depression scores compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between the vitiligo and alopecia areata groups (p > 0.05). This underscores the psychological burden of chronic skin conditions and the importance of integrating mental health support into dermatological care.
