Comparison of anxiety, depression, stress and quality of life in patients acne and healthy individuals

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that its side effects like hyper-trophic and atrophic scars and long-term pigmentation has adverse psychological effects on the individual. This study aimed to compare the psychological effects and quality of life in two groups of patients with acne and Healthy individuals. Methods: In this case-control study, 100 patients with and 100 individuals without acne were selected. The prevalence and severity of psychological effects, including depression, anxiety and stress was assessed using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) questionnaire and quality of life was assessed using World Health Organization Quality of Life- BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. The data were compared between the two groups. Findings: In two groups of patients and controls, 7 and 8 had minor depression, respectively, 5 of patients had moderate depression and 2 of the control group had severe depression with no significant difference between the both groups (P = 0.070). In patients and control groups, 7 and 5 had mild, 4 and 2 had moderate and 1 and 2 had severe anxiety, respectively with no significance difference between the both groups (P = 0.660). In addition, 8 of patients and 1 of controls suffered from mild stress; the level of stress had significant difference between the both groups (P = 0.017). The score of quality of life was 80.00 ± 11.19 and 79/30 ± 10/73 in patients and controls, respectively with no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.940). Conclusion: The prevalence of psychological effects was higher in patients. On the other hand, patients with acne (mainly mild and moderate) had a lesser degree of support from others, quality of life and health satisfaction. So, it is necessary to evaluate psychological aspects in patients with mild to moderate acne. © 2016, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.