Quality of Life and the Presence of Depression Among Adults with Hair Loss in the South of Saudi Arabia.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Alomaish, Abeer R Gosadi, Ibrahim M Dallak, Fatimah H Darraj, Atheer I Jaafari, Shatha M Alshamakhy, Arar E Mleeh, Nouf T
Copyright Year	2022
Abstract	PurposeThis study aims to measure quality of life and the presence of depression among adults suffering from perceived hair loss.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design that targeted adult subjects with perceived hair loss in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected during interviews in selected primary healthcare centers. Data pertaining to the demography, quality of life, and presence of depression in participants were collected. Quality of life was assessed via a modified Arabic version of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The presence of depression was assessed via Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). A chi-squared test was used to detect statistically significant differences between the levels of quality of life and depression and the measured demographic characteristics.ResultsA total of 483 subjects reported having hair loss. The median age of the sample was 30 years. The majority of the respondents were female (74.5%) and had university-level education (71.4%). Only 169 (35%) reported seeking medical advice concerning their hair loss. The effect of hair loss on quality of life score varied between 2 and 29, with a median score of 6. The median depression level was 6, and the level varied between 0 and 27. Gender, education level, seeking medical care due to hair loss, and worsening of hair loss seem to have an impact on quality of life and depression levels (p values < 0.05).ConclusionNearly half of the sample experienced a more than moderate impact on their quality of life induced by their perceived hair loss. Additionally, more than half of the sample exhibited moderate or stronger levels of depression. Encouraging subjects with perceived hair loss to seek medical advice concerning their hair loss may result in early identification, appropriate diagnosis, and the use of curative measures, may consequently improving patients’ quality of life and preventing depression.
Page Count	8
Journal	Psychology Research and Behavior Management
Volume Number	15
PubMed Central reference number	PMC9359494
PubMed reference number	35957760
e-ISSN	11791578
DOI	10.2147/PRBM.S375247
Language	English
Publisher	Dove
Publisher Date	2022-08-04
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). © 2022 Alomaish et al.
Subject Keyword	quality of life depression hair loss Jazan Saudi Arabia
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Psychiatry and Mental Health Psychology