Publication: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Vitiligo Patients and Healthy Controls at A Tertiary Hospital: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Medicine
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Vitiligo is often associated with stigma, leading to emotional distress and increased vulnerability to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress. This study aimed to compare the levels of these psychological issues between vitiligo patients and healthy controls, while also examining the impact of socio-demographic and clinical factors.
Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 42 vitiligo patients and 42 healthy controls. The Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) was used to assess the severity of vitiligo, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), comprising three subscales: Depression (DASS-D), Anxiety (DASS-A), and Stress (DASS-S), was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used for data analysis.
Results: Among vitiligo patients, 50% (n=21) exhibited depressive symptoms [median DASS-D score 9 (IQR 1.5-18.0)], compared to 19% (n=8) of controls. Anxiety symptoms were present in 54.8% (n=23) of the vitiligo group [median DASS-A score 8 (IQR 2.0-16.5)], compared to 21.4% (n=9) of controls. Stress was reported in 31% (n=13) of the vitiligo group [median DASS-S score 11 (IQR 2.0-16.5)], compared to 7.1% (n=3) in controls. Significant differences were found in depression, anxiety, and stress between the two groups (p = 0.005, p = 0.003, p = 0.02). A negative correlation between vitiligo duration and anxiety/stress was observed (p=0.03, p=0.01). Positive correlations existed among the DASS-D, DASS-A, and DASS-S scores.
Conclusion: Patients with vitiligo were more susceptible to psychological distress, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and experienced these issues at significantly higher rates compared to healthy controls.
Keywords: Anxiety; depression; stress; vitiligo seeking
Description
Vilok Mishra1, Anupa Khadka1, Pratikchya Tulachan2, Sudip Parajuli3
1Kanti Childrens Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
2Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
3Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords
Anxiety, depression, stress, vitiligo seeking