Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Picardi, A. Articles by Biondi, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Picardi, A. Articles by Biondi, M. Syndromes Secondary to General Medical Disorders

Psychosomatic Factors in First-Onset Alopecia Areata

Received June 5, 2002; revision received Nov. 1, 2002; accepted Dec. 2, 2002. From the Clinical Epidemiology Unit and the outpatient clinics of the Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IDI-IRCCS); as well as the Public Health Department and the Department of Psychiatric Sciences and Psychological Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome. Address reprint requests to Dr. Picardi, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta, 104–00167 Rome, Italy; a.picardi{at}idi.it (e-mail).

Although the onset of alopecia areata has often been anecdotally linked with emotional stress, findings from the few controlled studies have not been univocal. The authors compared outpatients experiencing a recent onset of alopecia areata (N=21) with outpatients affected by skin conditions commonly believed as having a low psychosomatic component (N=102). Participants were administered Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events, the Experiences in Close Relationships scale, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Multiple logistic regression was used to control for age and gender. The total number of recent life events (last 12 months) was not different between the alopecia patients and the comparison subjects. Also, the alopecia patients and the comparison subjects did not differ in terms of the number of undesirable or major events. The comparison subjects even experienced a greater number of uncontrollable events. Alopecia areata tended to be associated with high avoidance in attachment relationships, high alexithymic characteristics, and poor social support. The results suggest that personality characteristics might modulate individual susceptibility to alopecia areata.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Picardi, P. Porcelli, P. Pasquini, G. Fassone, E. Mazzotti, I. Lega, L. Ramieri, E. Sagoni, D. Abeni, A. Tiago, et al. Integration of multiple criteria for psychosomatic assessment of dermatological patients. Psychosomatics, March 1, 2006; 47(2): 122 - 128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Picardi, E. Mazzotti, P. Gaetano, M.S. Cattaruzza, G. Baliva, C.F. Melchi, M. Biondi, and P. Pasquini Stress, Social Support, Emotional Regulation, and Exacerbation of Diffuse Plaque Psoriasis Psychosomatics, December 1, 2005; 46(6): 556 - 564. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2003 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us