Association of Acne Vulgaris with mental health and quality of life among Acne Vulgaris patients

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the level of anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) and to find out association of mental health and Quality of life among acne vulgaris patients.

Methodology: It was a comparative cross-sectional study conducted in Dermatology OPD of PIMS Islamabad from January to June 2025, in which age and gender matched cases and controls were enrolled from through non-probability purposive sampling. Those who were diagnosed with acne vulgaris were considered as cases (Group A), while those who were not diagnosed with acne vulgaris or any skin disease (e.g. patient attendants accompanying the patients) were considered as healthy controls (Group B). Study participants filled the anxiety (HADS-A), depression (HADS-D). Quality of Life (DLQI) questionnaires and Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) score were measured for cases. Descriptive and inferential statistics was applied using SPSS v26.

Results: This study included a total of 153 male participants (cases=70; controls=83) with the mean age of 20.6±3.9 years. Mean GAGS score amongst cases was 21.3±7.3 and mean total DLQI score of cases was 6.15±4.9. Correspondingly, mean HADS-A and HADS-D score among all the participants was 4.36±4.4 and 4.45±3.9 respectively. HADS-A and HADS-D mean scores are slightly higher in cases (i.e. 4.7 and 4.9 respectively) (p>0.05). DLQI showed positive correlation (r=0.50) with HADS-D and HADS-A (p<0.001). Mostly moderate to severe acne patient had higher DLQI but very severe acne had relatively milder effect on DLQI. Consecutively, highest GAGS score was observed in patients with higher duration of acne.

Conclusions: Our study concluded that acne does not cause any significant mental health issue including anxiety and depression. No association of acne vulgaris with mental health issues and QoL is reported in our study. Furthermore, advance longitudinal studies are required which should include female population and larger sample size.