Comparison of tendency to suicide and stress in patients with vitiligo and those without current skin diseases: A case-control study

ackground and Aim: Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease which manifests with depigmented patches as a result of absence of skin melanocytes. Vitiligo results in beauty problems which could cause mental disorders. The purpose of this research was to compare the tendency to suicide and stress in patients with vitiligo with those without any skin disease.
For conducting this research, 30 patients with vitiligo who were referred to the Behsima Skin and Laser Clinic in Tehran during 2016 were recruited. Data were collected using Beck suicide scale ideation and Kohen stress questionnaires. Thirty demographically-matched individuals without active skin disease over the past six months were recruited into the study as the control group.
Mean±standard deviation (SD) of Beck suicide scale ideation (BSSI) score in patients with vitiligo was 3.67±1.33, significantly higher than 0.37±0.17 in the control group (P=0.02). Mean scores of stress in vitiligo patients was 28.33±9.20, which was also higher than the control group mean, 21.77±8.19 (P=0.005).
Patients with vitiligo had more suicide ideation and stress than normal population. So, in taking care and treating in vitiligo patients, a special attention to the psychological effects of disease on the lives of the patients is recommended.