Stigma, not severity, drives depression and anxiety in alopecia areata

Stigma, not severity, drives depression and anxiety in alopecia areata

A King’s College London study led by Dr Tziotzios has found that the emotional burden of alopecia areata depends more on how people perceive their condition, and how others respond to it, than on the extent of hair loss.

The research team surveyed 596 adults with alopecia areata. More than 80% reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, and more than half felt embarrassed by their condition. Over a third reported that it affected their work or study, housework, family relationships or leisure activities.

The extent of hair loss did not determine these effects. Quality of life depended on the negative perceptions and stigma attached to the condition. Participants who viewed their alopecia more positively reported lower levels of anxiety.

Alopecia areata affects more than 2% of people in the UK at some point in their lives, and its psychological impact is often overlooked in clinical care. The findings show that care should address how patients feel about and cope with their condition, alongside treatment of the hair loss itself.

The team is now extending this work through Alopecia+us, a global study of the impact of alopecia on adolescents and their families, co-funded by the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PEDRA) and the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF).

The study was published in the British Journal of Dermatology and funded by an academic research grant from Pfizer. Read the paper · Original King’s College London news story