Anxiety and depression in pediatric patients with vitiligo and alopecia areata and their parents: A cross-sectional controlled study.

BACKGROUND

Alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo are associated with various psychiatric comorbidities, and the care of a child with AA or vitiligo may be associated with higher anxiety and depression than healthy children.

AIMS

We aimed to identify psychiatric findings in children and adolescent groups with AA and vitiligo and to evaluate the levels of anxiety and depression in their parents.

METHODS

This study included 31 patients with AA and 29 patients with vitiligo, aged seven to 17 years, and their parents. Age- and gender-matched 30 controls and their parents were included. The patients and controls completed the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales-Child version (RCADS-C), and their parents completed the parent version (RCADS-P). The parents also completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). In addition, the stressful event history of all cases was noted.

RESULTS

Stressful event history was higher in the vitiligo group compared to the AA group, and it was higher in the AA and vitiligo groups compared to the control group. Separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, social phobia, and major depressive disorder (MDD) scores were higher in the AA group than controls according to the RCADS-C. According to the RCADS-P, panic disorder (PD), MDD, and total anxiety scores were higher in the AA group. Only the PD and MDD scores were higher in the vitiligo group than those of the controls based on the RCADS-P. Lastly, no significant difference was observed between the three groups concerning the parents' BAI and BDI scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Stressful events were more common in pediatric patients with vitiligo than those with AA. Anxiety symptoms were more prevalent in patients with AA than those with vitiligo.