Anxiety Disorders More Prevalent Among Alopecia Patients, Meta-Analysis Reveals

"The meta-analysis involving 5,553 patients found that almost 50% of individuals with alopecia experienced anxiety disorders, with an event rate of 0.47. The severity of anxiety is closely linked to the extent of hair loss, with an average HADS-A score of 7.87," the researchers reported in the journal Medicine. "Further analysis revealed significant rates of mild anxiety (0.17) and moderate-to-severe anxiety (0.23). These results underline the considerable psychological impact of alopecia, stressing the importance of addressing mental health concerns in those affected."

Hair loss is a significant health issue that often brings about emotional and psychological challenges for individuals, affecting various aspects of their lives, including relationships, careers, and personal well-being. Alopecia, in particular, has been shown to lead to considerable emotional distress, with many individuals struggling to cope with the effects on their appearance and self-esteem.

Against the above background, Abdulelah Ibrahim Alrasheed, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and colleagues aimed to examine the complex relationship between hair loss and anxiety disorders, focusing on the prevalence and impact of anxiety specifically, while distinguishing it from other psychological effects commonly associated with alopecia.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework. A thorough search was carried out across several electronic databases, including Cochrane, PubMed, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies published in English between 2014 and 2024.

The researchers reported the following findings:

• The study included 24 eligible articles, with 5,553 patients experiencing one or more forms of hair loss.
• Anxiety disorder was significantly prevalent among patients with alopecia, with an event rate (ER) of 0.47.
• The analysis of anxiety severity showed a significant relationship between anxiety and hair loss, with ERs of 0.35, 0.15, and 0.05.
• A mean HADS-A score of 7.87 further indicated the statistical significance of anxiety severity.
• There was considerable heterogeneity across various statistical analyses.

The researchers found that alopecia was strongly associated with anxiety disorders in individuals affected by hair loss-related conditions, with a notably higher prevalence of anxiety among these patients. The severity analysis further revealed a significant correlation between alopecia and varying levels of anxiety, ranging from mild to severe.

"These findings emphasize the considerable psychological burden that alopecia imposes on individuals and highlight the importance of incorporating thorough psychological evaluations and targeted therapies for those experiencing hair loss. We emphasize the need for comprehensive care to address physical and psychological impacts of alopecia," the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Almudimeegh, Almuntsrbellah MDa; Alajlan, Ahmed Hamad MDb; Alrasheed, Abdulelah Ibrahim MDb,*; Alrasheed, Mansour Ibrahim MDc; Alqahtani, Abdullah Khalid MDd; Idris, Reem Bin MDb; Alomar, Muhannad Abdullah MDb; Alobaid, Shaden Ahmad MDb; Alotaibi, Nouf Ali MDe. The impact, prevalence, and association of different forms of hair loss among individuals with anxiety disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine 104(6):p e41457, February 07, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041457