Comparison of the frequency of personality disorders in patients diagnosed with alopecia areata and the normal population

Abstract

Background: Alopecia areata is a recurrent inflammatory disorder causes non-scarring hair loss. The condition most commonly presents with discrete patches of alopecia on the scalp but can include total loss of scalp or body hair. While occurring in men and women of all ages and races, onset most frequently occurs in young people. Psychosomatic changes caused by this disease can lead to psychological long-term problems such as anxiety and depression. Personality disorders can alter clinical presentation of the disease. This study sought to determine the correlation of personality disorders with the occurrence of alopecia areata. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in 84 patients divided in two groups of patients diagnosed with alopecia areata and the normal population. The demographic information of both groups was gathered with a questionnaire and the personality disorder was evaluated with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). Findings: Patients with alopecia areata tended to have statistically more personality disorders compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Personality disorders among women were more common compared with men (0.27 vs. 0.05). The difference was significant in women compared with control group (P < 0.05), but was not statistically significant between the two groups of men (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the significant role of adolescence in society and the correlation between personality disorder and alopecia areata, we recommend psychiatric counseling, clinical evaluation, psychological diagnosis and treatment along with the other treatments. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.