A Comparative Study on Psychological Profile (Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, and Body Dysmorphism) in Patients with and without Hair Loss

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Dermatologist and Researcher, Psychosomatic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Student of Medicine, Psychosomatic Research Center AND Behavioral Sciences Research Center AND Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Behavioral Sciences Research Center AND Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Psychosomatic Research Center AND Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

5 Department of Psychology, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Since, hair loss can be accompanied by worries about general appearance and can cause feeling of being bad looking and low self-esteem and although it can produce anxiety, it has effects on social functions. This study was designed to assess psychological and behavioral impacts of hair loss on patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on two groups of case and control (98 person in each group). Both groups were matched for age, marital status and education. Then, the two groups were given four self-administrate questionnaires, Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), Rosenberg self-esteem scale, World health organization quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF), and Body image disturbance questionnaire (BIDQ). Finally, the results were compared using independent t-test.Findings: There were no significant differences between the case and control groups in anxiety and depression, quality of life, and self-esteem. Nevertheless, there was significant difference between the two groups in body image disturbance (P < 0.001).Conclusion: Patients with hair loss clearly suffer from feeling of being bad looking and this can affect their social functions and their presence in community.

Keywords

References

  1. Cash TF. The psychology of hair loss and its implications for patient care. Clin Dermatol 2001; 19(2): 161-6.
  2. van der Donk J, Hunfeld JA, Passchier J, Knegt-Junk KJ, Nieboer C. Quality of life and maladjustment associated with hair loss in women with alopecia androgenetica. Soc Sci Med 1994; 38(1): 159-63.
  3. James WD. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2006.
  4. Habif TP, Campbell JL, Chapman MS, Dinulos JG. Skin disease: diagnosis and treatment. Philadelphia, PA: C V Mosby Company; 2005.
  5. Sinclair R, Dawber PR. Handbook of diseases of the hair and scalp. New Jersey, NJ: Wiley; 1999.
  6. Grimalt R. Psychological aspects of hair disease. J Cosmet Dermatol 2005; 4(2): 142-7.
  7. van der Donk J, Passchier J, Knegt-Junk C, van der Wegen-Keijser MH, Nieboer C, Stolz E, et al. Psychological characteristics of women with androgenetic alopecia: a controlled study. Br J Dermatol 1991; 125(3): 248-52.
  8. Cash TF, Price VH, Savin RC. Psychological effects of androgenetic alopecia on women: comparisons with balding men and with female control subjects. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993; 29(4): 568-75.
  9. Cash TF. The psychological effects of androgenetic alopecia in men. J Am Acad Dermatol 1992; 26(6): 926-31.
  10. Gulec AT, Tanriverdi N, Duru C, Saray Y, Akcali C. The role of psychological factors in alopecia areata and the impact of the disease on the quality of life. Int J Dermatol 2004; 43(5): 352-6.
  11. Montazeri A, Vahdaninia M, Ebrahimi M, Jarvandi S. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS): translation and validation study of the Iranian version. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2003; 1: 14.
  12. Rosenberg M. Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press; 1965.
  13. Mazloomy Mahmoodabad S, Mehri A, Morowatisharifabad M. The Relationship of Health Behavior with Self-esteem and Self-efficacy in Students of Yazd Shahid Sadooghi University of Medical Sciences. Strides Dev Med Educ 2007; 3(2): 111-7. [In Persian].
  14. Masaeli N, Atari A, Moulavi H, Najafi M, Siavash M. Normative data and psychometric properties of the quality of life questionnaire for patients with diabetes mellitus. Koomesh 2010; 11(4): 263-70. [In Persian].
  15. Nejat S, Montazeri A, Holakouie Naieni K, Mohammad K, Majdzadeh SR. The World Health Organization quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire: Translation and validation study of the Iranian version. J Sch Public Health Inst Public Health Res 2006; 4(4): 1-12. [In Persian].
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 32, Issue 274 - Serial Number 274
January and February 2014
Pages 110-119

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 04 November 2013
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics