P#46  The psychosocial consequences of androgenetic alopecia

Jeong Soo Kim, Ki Beom Suhr, Jeung Hoon Lee and Jang Kyu Park. Dept of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Taejon, Korea

Androgenetic alopecia is a common dermatological condition, with potentially adverse psychosocial effects. Many physicians have used various parameters to assess the psychosocial effects of the disease. In this study we assessed the psychosocial effects of the patients of androgenetic alopecia by means of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Fear of Negative Evaluation-Brief, and Index of Peer Relation (IPR). The subjects were 60 patients of androgenetic alopecia and 60 control patients (20 psoriasis patients, 20 vitiligo patients, 20 "normal" patients). Results revealed that androgenetic alopecia more affects the degree of depression, social avoidance and distress, and peer relations than control. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the patients of androgenetic alopecia early for their psychosocial wellbeing.