Psychological Distress among Patients with Acne Vulgaris: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern Rajasthan

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous units that causes comedones, inflammatory follicular papules, pustules, and nodular cystic lesions in the sebaceous areas of the skin of the face and trunk. Approximately 9.4% of the world’s population is estimated to be affected by acne, ranking it as the eighth most common disease on a global scale.
Aims and objectives: This study aimed to assess psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) among patients with acne vulgaris attending a tertiary care hospital, evaluate associated sociodemographic and clinical variables, assess acne severity using the Global Acne Grading Scale (GAGS), and determine its association with psychological distress measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) scale.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months in the dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary healthcare center in Southern Rajasthan on 84 patients with acne vulgaris. The participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and clinical proforma, the Global Acne Grading Scale (GAGS), and the Hindi-validated version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21).
Results: The mean age of the patients was 28.80 (±4.21) years. The study sample was predominantly male, unmarried, and Hindu, with most participants being educated and students or never employed. Most patients had mild-to-moderate acne, with no instances of very severe acne vulgaris. A positive family history was observed in 14% of the participants. Both acne duration and severity showed a positive but statistically non-significant correlation with psychological distress.
Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of routine comprehensive clinical assessments in patients with acne vulgaris. Consultation and liaison between dermatologists and psychiatrists are warranted to improve treatment outcomes.