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Alopecia areata and increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders
J Y Koo1, W V Shellow, C P Hallman
1Department of Dermatology, University of California at San Francisco Medical Center.
Background:
The relationship between psychiatric disorders and alopecia areata has not been well studied. Although previous reports have been unable to correlate psychiatric illness with hair loss, a recent study determined that 74% of patients with alopecia areata (AA) under evaluation had one or more lifetime psychiatric diagnoses.
Methods:
Two hundred and ninety-four community-based patients with alopecia areata responded to a detailed questionnaire distributed by Help Alopecia International Research, Inc. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was determined using diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IIIR).
Results:
Major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and paranoid disorder were all present in patients with alopecia areata at rates significantly higher than in the general population.
Conclusions:
Alopecia areata patients are at a higher risk of developing psychiatric comorbidity during their clinical course.