Dermatological Quality of Life and Psychiatric Morbidity Among 200 Vitiligo Patients

Introduction: Vitiligo is one of the most prevalent acquired depigmentation disorders that can produce significant psychosocial burden in patients who suffer from poor body image, low self-esteem, and considerable level of disability from the disease. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of life (QoL) using the dermatological life quality index (DLQI), attitude to appearance (ATT), and impact of the disease questionnaire (IMPACT) score; to estimate the clinical interview schedulerevised (CIS-R); to evaluate the correlation of the disease. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a total of 200 patients of vitiligo who attended the Dermatology out-patient department with the diagnosis of vitiligo made clinically. A detailed pro forma containing the sociodemographic details, clinical examination, clinical severity of the disease using vitiligo area, and severity index (VASI). Activity of the disease using vitiligo disease activity score was calculated. For assessment of perceptions, five screening instruments were used. Results: Out of 200 cases, males comprised 113 (56.5%) with the majority married and from urban locality. Generalized type of vitiligo was the most common type (61%) with the mean ages of onset being 28.65 years. The mean VASI of the patients was 562.64. The mean DLQI score was found to be 4.82, and the mean ATT score was 2.82 and the mean IMPACT score was 3.4. Conclusion: The effect on QoL and psychiatric morbidity was seen to be significant in women doing home management. Higher DLQI scores were observed in vitiligo patients with early age onset and clinical severity. The risk of psychiatric morbidity increased with higher DLQI and IMPACT scores.