Impact of acne variables on Egyptian patients’ psychometric and quality of life

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease which has a major impact on quality of life and common psychiatric co-morbidities. Objective: was to assess Quality Of Life (QOL) and depression in Egyptian acne patients and the effect of acne variables such as clinical severity, disease duration, type of treatment and presence of complications on patients’ psychometric using objective scales. Patients and methods: Four hundred acne patients and one hundred healthy participants as controls were included in the study. The patients were subjected to clinical examination with assessment of acne severity by Global Acne Grading Scale (GAGS) and patient selffulfillment of 2 psychometric questionnaires: Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) and Beck depression inventory (BDI). Results: There was significant impairment of QOL in Egyptian acne patients. Impairment of QOL was significantly correlated with acne severity and its complications. Moreover, increase in depression scores was also found to be significantly correlated with acne severity and its complications. Conclusion: There is strong positive correlation between the severity and complications of acne and the psychiatric condition of the patients. Psychiatric assessment and early management of the acne patients is necessary. Keywords: acne; quality of life; depression; questionnaire.