Axis-I Diagnosis in Vitiligo and Chronic Urticaria Patients

Vitiligo is a common acquired disorder with an estimated incidence of 1-4 %. It is characterized by a fairly symmetric pattern of circumscribed macules and patches of amelanosis. Vitiligo has a considerable social and psychological impact on patients because of alteration of appearence [1, 2]. Chronic urticaria is a skin disorder which is characterized by wheals and itching. Suffering chronic urticaria have constant personality characteristics: marked hyperemotivity and anxiety, frequent and extreme states of worry, sensitivity, sense of insecurity and little self-confidence [2-4]. Vitiligo patients are sensitive to the perceptions of others about themselves and frequently feel anxiety because of the anticipation of rejection, rude and humiliative comments of others, thus leading to be socially isolated, depressed, use alcohol and nonalcoholic substances, experience interpersonal problems [2,5]. Krüger C1, Schallreuter KU (2014) investigated coping, depression and stigmatisation and included 96 patients with vitiligo and 23 controls.