“DEPRESSION AND SOCIAL ANXIETY AMONG PATIENTS WITH PRESENTING ACNE VULGARISâ€

Abstract

Background: Acne Vulgaris is a common skin condition seen on the face, and is associated
with a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges like, issues of body image,
socialization, sexuality, embarrassment, self-consciousness, lack of self-confidence, and
social dysfunction such as reduced/avoidance of social interactions with peers and opposite
gender. The aim of this study is to determine the magnitude of social anxiety and depression
in patients suffering from Acne Vulgaris.
Material & Method: Present cross-sectional study was conducted among the patients aged 16
to 35yrs with consent attending to Departments of Dermatology and Psychiatry OPD, tertiary
care hospital, between December 2022 to June 2023 with diagnosis of acne vulgaris. Data
was collected using a proforma to collect sociodemographic and clinical information about
the patients and Scales used to assess the social anxiety and depression in patients with acne
vulgaris and comparison group. (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, HAM-D). A p-value of
<0.05 was considered statistically significant and all the analysis was performed using SPSS
v21 operating on windows 10.
Result: In present study, total of 254 patients fulfilling inclusion criteria are included with
mean age of 24.99±4.14yrs with 30% males and 70% female patients. On assessment of the
various scores between the cases and control, there is significant higher mean score of social
fear score, performance fear score, social avoidance, performance avoidance, and also the
total scores in cases compared to the patients in control group. (p<0.05)
Conclusion: The present study concluded that there is significant higher incidence of social
anxiety and depression among the patients with acne vulgaris. Also, the study documents the prevalence among the teenagers and also female preponderance. The study helped to identify the risk of development of the social anxiety and depression among the patients with acne.