Hair loss perception and symptoms of depression in female outpatients attending a general dermatology clinic.
BACKGROUND
Hair loss is a common complaint among women and may be associated with psychological disturbances.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated dermatology patients with respect to the prevalence of complaints of hair loss and the association between these complaints and symptoms of depression.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted with female outpatients over 20 years of age with no hair-related disorders. Patients were asked about hair loss and were evaluated with respect to symptoms of depression. The following variables were also analyzed: age, dermatological diagnosis, comorbidities, medications, family history of alopecia, hair length, the number of hairs extracted in the hair pull test and the presence of hair thinning or seborrheic dermatitis. Data were compared by bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regressions between groups of women with and without hair loss.


RESULTS
Of the 157 women interviewed, 54% reported hair loss and 29% reported at least two key symptoms of depression. The median (IQD) age of the women was 51 (20) years. Complaints of hair loss were associated with the presence of symptoms of depression even following adjustment for the other covariates (p=0.02; OR=2.79; 95%CI: 1.18-6.61). Statistically significant differences were also found between the patients with and without hair loss with respect to: age (p=0.03), family history of alopecia (p<0.01), hair length (p=0.01), number of hairs extracted in the hair pull test (p=0.02), hair thinning (p<0.01), seborrheic dermatitis (p<0.01) and problems with personal relationships (p=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Hair-related disorders are a common topic of interest in this population. The significant association found between this complaint and symptoms of depression indicates a relationship between the perception of hair loss and the psychological well being of the women evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
Complaints of hair loss were common and were associated with a greater prevalence of symptoms of depression among adult female outpatients at a public dermatology clinic.
Dermatology Unit, Evangelical Teaching Hospital of Curitiba, Evangelical Medical School of Paraná, Brazil. julivs@gmail.com
Juliano Vilaverde
JV
Schmitt
Camila Ferrari
CF
Ribeiro
Fernanda Homem de Mello de
FH
Souza
Elisa Beatriz Dalledone
EB
Siqueira
Fernanda Regina Lemos
FR
Bebber
D000505:Alopecia / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept