Impact of hair loss on quality of life and mental health: a comparative study of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata

Akshay Samagani, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University, Bengaluru, India Leena Raveendra, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University, Bengaluru, India Karishma Desai, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, India T.P. Sumanth, Department of Psychiatry, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University, Bengaluru. Karnataka, India

Objectives: Hair has a crucial role in the esthetic appearance of a person, making them look young and confident. Hair loss overall affects self-esteem and is thus prone to psychiatric comorbidities such as depression and anxiety. Thus, this study aims to know the quality of life in patients suffering from common hair loss conditions, such as androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA). Methods: A total of 200 AGA and AA patients were enrolled in this study. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory Scale (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory Scale (BAI), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) were used to study the quality of life and psychiatric comorbidities in them. Results: A total of 88 AA and 112 AGA patients were enrolled in our study. The mean DLQI score was 12.34 in AA and 12.93 in AGA, which implied a large effect on QoL. The mean BAI scale was 22.35 in AA and 22.18 in AGA, and the mean BDI scale was 24.63 in AA and 26.34 in AGA, which implied a moderate effect of anxiety and depression. Almost 50% of patients in AGA showed severe anxiety. PHQ in AA and AGA showed a significant difference in depressive and binge eating disorders. Conclusions: There was a large impact on the QoL amongst all of our patients, and anxiety and depression were moderately documented. There was no statistically significant difference between the psychiatric comorbidities among patients with AA and AGA. Understanding the psychological impact on the patients of AA and AGA can help with effective counseling and treatment.

Keywords: Alopecia areata. Androgenic alopecia. Beck anxiety inventory scale. Beck depression inventory scale. Dermatology life quality index.