Psychological disturbances in patients with pigmentary disorders: a cross-sectional study

Data on prevalence and factors influencing psychological burden in pigmentary disorders are scarce.

To determine the point prevalence of anxiety disorder, depression and somatoform disorder in patients with melasma, vitiligo and acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation (ADMH).

A prospective cross-sectional study involving 100 patients each with melasma, ADMH and vitiligo with lesions on exposed body parts was conducted in the pigmentary clinic of a tertiary care referral hospital from June 2015 to December 2017. Dermatology life quality index, PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-15 were used for assessment of quality of life, psychiatric comorbidities, depression, general anxiety disorder and somatoform disorders, respectively, and correlated with age, gender, occupation, marital status, severity and progression of the disease.

The prevalence of anxiety disorder in patients with melasma, vitiligo and ADMH was 11.6%, 21% and 18.7%, respectively. Depression was seen in 12.8%, 27% and 24.1% patients with melasma, vitiligo and ADMH, respectively. Somatoform disorder was more common in vitiligo (17.9%) as compared to ADMH (14.3%) and melasma (8.1%). There were positive correlations between the severity of disease and the point prevalence of anxiety and depression in all disorders.

A high point prevalence of anxiety, depression and somatoform disorders was observed with pigmentary diseases, especially vitiligo and ADMH. The prevalence of anxiety and depression correlated with the disease severity and activity. Future research involving comparison with the general healthy population is required for a more affirmative conclusion.