title: Investigation of factors associated with health-related quality of life and psychological distress in vitiligo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Skin diseases distort the body image with possible negative effects on the quality of life and psychosocial health of patients. While vitiligo does not affect the physical well-being, it may be psychologically distressing. The present study was based on the hypothesis that particular factors might be critical regarding the adjustment to the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the vitiligo-related quality of life and psychological distress of 216 patients diagnosed with the disease in relation to demographic factors, disease components, and personality traits. For this purpose, we administered the self-completed questionnaires Dermatological Quality of Life Index, General Health Questionnaire, Eysenck Personality Inventory, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between patients' distress and health-related quality of life. Moreover, the impact of vitiligo on the quality of life was significantly associated with disease variables as well as personality traits and gender. On the other hand, psychological distress was significantly associated with personality traits and gender, but not with disease components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the psychosocial adjustment to the disease is mainly influenced by subjective factors. This observation could imply the need for targeted support interventions in the treatment of vitiligo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bonotis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pantelis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Sokratis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karaoulanis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrysanthos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katsimaglis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papaliaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Efterpi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zafiriou
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.|Vitiligo Center Clinics, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsogas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*