The psychological impact of vitiligo in adult Sudanese patients.
OBJECTIVE
Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease that causes loss of pigment, resulting in irregular pale patches of skin. The disease has profound psychological consequences. These effects range from mild embarrassment to a severe loss of self-confidence and social anxiety, especially for those who have lesions on exposed skin. The study sought to determine the psychological impact of vitiligo in Sudanese patients.


METHODS
This study is a cross-sectional, clinical-epidemiological and hospital-based study, undertaken in Khartoum Dermatologic Hospital (KDH). The data was collected between June 2007 and November 2007. 111 adult patients were enrolled sequentially during the study period and they were tested using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).


RESULTS
Psychological disturbances as a consequence of vitiligo were found in 36 (31 %) adult patients. Patients with mild psychological disturbances were found in 20 of these patients and severe disturbances in 16.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychological consequences are common in patients with vitiligo.
Osman
A M
AM
University of Juba, Omduman-Sudan, Sudan. amoali2004@yahoo.com
Elkordufani
Y
Y
Abdullah
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D013397:Sudan; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult