Evaluating prevalence of depression, anxiety and hopelessness in patients with Vitiligo on an Iranian population

Abstract Introduction Vitiligo is caused by partial or complete destruction of melanocytes in the affected skin area and influences the patient’s quality of life. Besides physical involvement, vitiligo patients experience a high level of stress. Depression and Anxiety are common psychiatric disorders in vitiligo patients. Aim This study, as the first study, evaluates hopelessness, anxiety, depression and general health of vitiligo patients in comparison with normal controls in an Iranian population. Method Hundred patients with vitiligo and hundred healthy controls were examined. General health, depression, hopelessness and anxiety were evaluated based on general health questionnaire. Anxiety, depression and hopelessness levels were analyzed using Chi–Square, and the mean value of general health was evaluated through t-test. Results The results showed that anxiety and hopelessness levels were significantly higher in vitiligo patients than those who are in healthy controls. This significant difference refers to high levels of anxiety and hopelessness among women with vitiligo. It was also found that the single patients were more anxious, hopeless and depressive, while the married patients were only more anxious and hopeless than those who are in the control group, respectively. General health of patients was significantly worse than in healthy controls. The low level of general health in patients was related to poorer level of general health among women with vitiligo. Conclusion It seems that women with vitiligo are more mentally stressed than men with vitiligo. Both singles and married vitiligo patients suffer from anxiety and hopelessness.