Evaluation of feeling of stigmatization in patients with alopecia areata and comparison with patients with mental disorder

Objectives: We aimed to measure the perceived stigma especially in patients with alopecia areata (AA) and to compare the results with patients with mental disorder (MD).

Methods: This study included 40 patients with AA, who were consecutively recruited from Dermatology outpatient clinics and 42 patients with mental disorder, who were consecutively recruited from psychiatric outpatient’s clinic. The presence of a mental disorder was assessed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV). All Participants were asked to complete the 28 items modified stigmatization questionnaire developed by Ginsburg and Bink.

Results: Total and all subscales scores of stigmatization questionnaire were higher in the group of patients with the AA than that in the patients with MD.

Conclusion: Alopecia areata is a condition that leads to more self-stigmatization than MD.