چکیده
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Background: Individuals with lichen planopilaris (LPP) typically
present with hair loss and an irritated scalp, with signs
and symptoms such as itching, erythema, scaling, and burning.
Both hair loss and reddened skin may be visible also for
other people. Therefore, it is conceivable that individuals
with LPP might report a lower mental health status. Accordingly,
in the present study, we compared dimensions of
mental health between individuals with LPP and healthy
controls. Method: A total of 38 individuals with LPP (mean
age: 38.24 years, 47.4% females) and 58 gender- and agematched
controls took part in this study. They completed
questionnaires covering dimensions of quality of life and
self-esteem; experts rated participants’ symptoms of depression
and anxiety. Furthermore, dermatologists reported on
the illness duration, the LPP activity index, and the severity
of alopecia. Results: Compared to healthy controls, individuals
with LPP reported lower scores of self-esteem, physical
functioning, and mental health and higher scores of role limitations
(physical and emotional). Likewise, experts rated
higher depression scores in individuals with LPP compared
to controls. In individuals with LPP, a higher LPP disease activity
and a higher severity of hair loss were associated with
higher depression and lower quality-of-life scores. Further, a
higher LPP activity index, a lower self-esteem, and higher
anxiety scores predicted a poorer quality of life, while illness
duration was statistically unrelated. Conclusions: Compared
to controls, and irrespectively of the illness duration, individuals
with LPP reported a lower quality of life and a lower
self-esteem, and experts’ ratings observed higher scores of
depression. Experts treating individuals with LPP might pay
special attention to the individuals’ mental health status.
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