Sleep Quality and Depression in Vitiligo Patients

Abstract

Aim: Vitiligo is a common disorder that has not only dermatological but also psychological consequences. The aim of this study was to compare depression and sleep quality of vitiligo patients with healthy control group. Methods: In this cross-sectional case-control study, patients admitted to the Dermatology Clinic of Skin and Venereal Diseases Department of Hitit University Erol Olçok Education and Research Hospital between August 2018 and August 2019 were compared with healthy control group. The study included 67 patients and 69 control group participants who were matched for age, sex, marriage status, and education level. The subjects were asked to complete a sociodemographic data form, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: The median total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was higher in the patient group compared with the control group. The median scores for subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbance were also higher in the patient group compared with the control group. A family history of vitiligo was present in 18 (26.9%) patients. The most common type was acrofacial vitiligo, which was present in 29 (43.3%) patients. Conclusions: Increased probability levels of depression and impaired sleep quality in vitiligo patients suggest that psychiatric evaluation and treatment should be provided for vitiligo patients as a part of a multidisciplinary approach in order to increase the success of the treatment. Keywords: Vitiligo, depression, sleep quality