Screening for Psychological Burden of Vitiligo Using Vitiligo Impact Scale

Abstract

Background: Chronic skin diseases conditions have been well reported to affect a patient’s quality of life on multiple dimensions, including the psychosocial domain. Patients can suffer from lowered self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. The assessment of the psychosocial impact of skin disease on a patient could facilitate the treatment plane and procedure to be carried out by the dermatologists to deal with the disease. Aim: the aim of this study was to assess the psychological burden of vitiligo using Vitiligo Impact Patient scale (VIPs). Materials and methods: A descriptive study was conducted on 60 vitiligo patients. All patients were assessed using Vitiligo Impact Scale. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Among the studied patients, 68.3% were females. Almost half of the patients (43.3%) were single, whilst only 28.3% were married. Half of the patients had generalized vertigo, and 51.7% had vertigo on their faces. According to the VIP, the vast majority of patients (56.7%) were moderately affected, one fourth (25%) of them were highly affected, and only 8.5% were slightly affected. There was a statistically significant correlation between the VIP score and patient’s age, sex, disease duration, marital status, vitiligo on the face, and percentage of the involved area. Conclusions: Vitiligo is considered as a major psychological impact on patients. This psychological impact is significantly correlated with patient's age, sex, duration of disease, marital status, the presence of vitiligo in the face, and percentage of area involved. However, there is no significant correlation between the family history of vitiligo, level of education and psychological impact of vitiligo.