Vitiligo and major depressive disorder: A bidirectional population-based cohort study

Assessing the Relationship Between Vitiligo and Major Depressive Disorder Severity: Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo, a common dermatological disorder in Saudi Arabia, is associated with significant psychological impacts. This study explores the relationship between vitiligo and the severity of major depressive disorder (MDD), highlighting the broader implications on mental health among affected individuals.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to assess the prevalence and predictors of depression among adult patients with vitiligo, and to examine the relationship between MDD severity and vitiligo.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, the research used the vitiligo area severity index and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to measure the extent of vitiligo and depression severity, respectively. This study involved 340 diagnosed patients with vitiligo from various health care settings. Logistic and ordinal regression analysis were applied to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic variables and vitiligo types on MDD severity.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MDD was 58.8% (200/340) of participants. Depression severity varied notably: 18.2% (62/340) of patients experienced mild depression, 17.9% (61/340) moderate, 11.8% (40/340) moderately severe, and 10.9% (37/340) severe depression. Female patients had higher odds of severe depression than male patients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.14, 95% CI 1.93-5.1; P<.001). Age was inversely related to depression severity, with patients aged older than 60 years showing significantly lower odds (aOR 0.1, 95% CI 0.03-0.39; P<.001). Lower income was associated with higher depression severity (aOR 10.2, 95% CI 3.25-31.8; P<.001). Vitiligo types also influenced depression severity; vulgaris (aOR 5.3, 95% CI 2.6-10.9; P<.001) and acrofacial vitiligo (aOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.5-5.1; P<.001) were significantly associated with higher depression levels compared to focal vitiligo.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that vitiligo contributes to an increased risk of severe depression, highlighting the need for integrated dermatological and psychological treatment approaches to address both the physical and mental health aspects of the disease.

Prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation in people with autoimmune skin diseases

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune skin diseases (ASDs) such as psoriasis and vitiligo, in addition to causing visible skin symptoms, are closely associated with psychological health issues. However, a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence of these psychological comorbidities in affected individuals is lacking. This study aims to identify the prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation in people with ASDs.

METHOD

PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library searches were conducted from 1993 to May 2024. Observational studies reporting prevalence data for anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation among people with ASDs were included in the analysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the quality of studies.

RESULTS

The study included 114 studies from 37 countries including 823,975 participants. The estimated pooled prevalence of anxiety in patients with ASDs was 33.3% (95% CI: 27.3-29.3%). The estimated pooled prevalence of depression was 33.7% (95% CI: 29.2-38.1%). The estimated pooled prevalence of sleeping problems was 45.0% (95% CI:31.6-58.4%). The estimated pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment and suicidal ideation was 30.8% (95% CI:15.0-46.7%) and 21.6% (95% CI:13.4-29.8%), respectively. The most common mental disorder in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis was sleeping problems at 55.9% (95% CI: 35.6-76.1%, I2 = 97%) and 39.0% (95% CI: 21.1-56.9%, I2 = 99%).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with ASDs, anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation were common. The most prevalent mental disorder among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis was sleeping problems. Those with ASDs may experience considerable psychological burdens, and integrated mental health support is necessary for their treatment.

The effect of antioxidant dietary supplements and diet-derived circulating antioxidants on vitiligo outcome: evidence from genetic association and comprehensive Mendelian randomization

Background

Previous studies have indicated that antioxidant diets may have a positive impact on vitiligo by interfering with oxidative stress mechanisms. However, there has been a lack of research utilizing the Mendelian randomization (MR) method to analyze the relationship between antioxidant diet intake and vitiligo.

Methods

In this study, we employed both univariate Mendelian randomization (UVMR) and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) approaches. The specific antioxidant dietary supplements (such as coffee intake, green tea intake, herbal tea intake, standard tea intake, and average weekly red wine intake) as well as diet-derived circulating antioxidants, including Vit. C (ascorbate), Vit. E (α-tocopherol), Vit. E (γ-tocopherol), Carotene, Vit. A (retinol), Zinc, and Selenium (N = 2,603-428,860) were significantly associated with independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We obtained pooled statistics on vitiligo from a meta-analysis of three genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of European ancestry, including 4,680 cases and 39,586 controls. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was employed as the primary analytical method, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the main findings.

Results

Genetically, coffee intake [odds ratio (OR) = 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-0.37, p = 1.57 × 10-5], average weekly red wine intake (OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08-1.00, p = 0.049), and standard tea intake (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99, p = 5.66 × 10-7) were identified as protective factors against vitiligo. However, no causal effect between the intake of other antioxidant diets and vitiligo was found. Moreover, no instances of pleiotropy or heterogeneity were observed in this study.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that coffee, standard tea, and red wine consumption can potentially reduce the risk of vitiligo. However, there is insufficient evidence to support that other antioxidant diets have a significant effect on vitiligo.

Automated Mass Screening for Comorbidities of Vitiligo Using the National Health Insurance Database

Although the study design for identifying specific disease associations using a health insurance database has been well-established, few studies explore unknown comorbidities. We conducted a series of automated case-control studies for all International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic codes (A01-Z99) using the Korean National Health Insurance database from 2007 to 2017 to reveal undiscovered disease associations of vitiligo. A total of 90,297 patients with vitiligo and 90,297 age- and sex-matched controls without vitiligo were included, and disease associations for 1,265 relevant diagnostic codes were screened. A meta-analysis of the individual ORs for each International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision code was performed to identify the possibility of selection bias. Finally, the association with vitiligo was significantly increased in 45 diseases and decreased in 6 diseases. We not only reaffirmed the positive correlation between vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases but also observed associations with obsessive-compulsive disorder and melanoma. In contrast, femur fracture showed a negative correlation. In this study, we attempted an automated mass screening and suggested a possible selection bias. In the era of large-scale databases, a systematic and comprehensive approach might be needed.

Optimization of Monobenzone-Induced Vitiligo Mouse Model by the Addition of Chronic Stress

Vitiligo is a common primary, limited or generalized skin depigmentation disorder. Its pathogenesis is complex, multifactorial and unclear. For this reason, few animal models can simulate the onset of vitiligo, and studies of drug interventions are limited. Studies have found that there may be a pathophysiological connection between mental factors and the development of vitiligo. At present, the construction methods of the vitiligo model mainly include chemical induction and autoimmune induction against melanocytes. Mental factors are not taken into account in existing models. Therefore, in this study, mental inducement was added to the monobenzone (MBEH)-induced vitiligo model. We determined that chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) inhibited the melanogenesis of skin. MBEH inhibited melanin production without affecting the behavioral state of mice, but mice in the MBEH combined with CUMS (MC) group were depressed and demonstrated increased depigmentation of the skin. Further analysis of metabolic differences showed that all three models altered the metabolic profile of the skin. In summary, we successfully constructed a vitiligo mouse model induced by MBEH combined with CUMS, which may be better used in the evaluation and study of vitiligo drugs.

Validation of medical service insurance claims as a surrogate for ascertaining vitiligo cases

The epidemiology of vitiligo, especially its disease burden on the healthcare system, can be assessed indirectly by analyzing health insurance claims data. Validating this approach is integral to ensuring accurate case identification and cohort characterization. The primary aim of this study was to develop and validate an indirect measure of vitiligo ascertainment using health insurance claims data. These data were used secondarily to identify demographic characteristics, body site involvement, vitiligo subtypes, disease associations, and treatments. This study assessed the validity of identifying vitiligo from billing claims within a Canadian provincial universal health insurance program, versus vitiligo cases accrued from direct medical chart reviews. Claims-based algorithms combining ICD-9-CM diagnostic code 709 with treatment-specific data were derived and tested to identify vitiligo patients. This was compared against cases arising from the manual review of medical records of 606 patient with a diagnostic code for "dyschromia" (ICD-9-CM diagnostic code 709) from January 1 to December 31, 2016. Based on the chart reviews, 204 (33.7%) patients were confirmed to have vitiligo. 42 separate claims-based algorithms combining ICD-9-CM diagnostic code 709 with treatment data specific to vitiligo were modeled and individually tested to evaluate their accuracy for vitiligo ascertainment. One algorithm achieved a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 86.8% (95% CI 82.1-91.4), 92.5% (95% CI 90.0-95.1), 85.5% (95% CI 80.7-90.3), and 93.2% (95% CI 90.8-95.7), respectively. There was a 2.2 female-to-male ratio. The most common medical treatments were tacrolimus (74.5%) and topical corticosteroids (54.3%). Hypertension (24.2%) and hypothyroidism (19.6%) were the predominant co-morbidities associated with vitiligo. Health insurance claims data can be used to indirectly ascertain vitiligo for epidemiologic purposes with relatively high diagnostic performance between 85.5 and 93.2%.

Treatment update for vitiligo based on autoimmune inhibition and melanocyte protection

INTRODUCTION

The treatment of vitiligo remains challenging due to the complexity of its pathogenesis, influenced by genetic factors, oxidative stress and abnormal cell adhesion that collectively impact melanocyte survival and trigger immune system attacks, resulting in melanocyte death. Melanocytes in vitiligo are believed to exhibit genetic susceptibility and defects in cellular mechanisms, such as defects in autophagy, that reduce their ability to resist oxidative stress, leading to increased expression of the pro-inflammatory protein HSP70. The low expression of adhesion molecules, such as DDR1 and E-cadherin, accelerates melanocyte damage and antigen exposure. Consequently, autoimmune attacks centered on IFN-γ-CXCR9/10-CXCR3-CD8⁺ T cells are initiated, causing vitiligo.

AREAS COVERED

This review discusses the latest knowledge on the pathogenesis of vitiligo and potential therapeutic targets from the perspective of suppressing autoimmune attacks and activating melanocytes functions.

EXPERT OPINION

Vitiligo is one of the most challenging dermatological diseases due to its complex pathogenesis with diverse therapeutic targets. Immune suppression, such as corticosteroids and emerging JAK inhibitors, has proven effective in disease progression. However, during the early stages of the disease, it is also important to optimize therapeutic strategies to activate melanocytes for alleviating oxidative stress and improving treatment outcomes.

Psychiatric medications and the risk of autoimmune and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

Pharmacovigilance reports have suggested that certain commonly used medications may trigger autoimmune diseases (ADs) and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). We systematically reviewed the literature to evaluate whether psychiatric medication use is associated with ADs and IMIDs.

METHODS

The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022296524) before the start of the study. We searched Medline Ovid and Scopus up to November 28th, 2021, for comparative studies, with any psychiatric medication as exposure and ADs and IMIDs as outcomes. Meta-analysis was performed using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects modeling. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed in reporting. Study-level risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the overall certainty of evidence using GRADE.

RESULTS

There were 7,265 citations from which 31 studies were eligible, all from high-income countries, covering 15 distinct immune diseases. The evidence for the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use and higher risk of microscopic colitis (meta-OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.05-6.39, I2 97.5%, 6 studies) was of low certainty. A subgroup analysis by the histological type of microscopic colitis showed a statistically significant association only with lymphocytic colitis (meta-OR 2.88, 95% CI 2.60-3.18, I2 00.00%, three studies). In two case-control studies, SSRI use had no significant association with psoriasis (meta-OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.58-1.10, I2 82.4%). The risk of acute pancreatitis was slightly increased with exposure to SSRIs (meta-OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26, I2 00.0%), as was the risk of bullous pemphigoid after exposure to antipsychotics (meta-OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.17-2.73, I2 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

We reviewed the literature on whether psychiatric medications associate with the risk of ADs and IMIDs and concluded that, despite several signals, the credibility of evidence remains low at best. Prospective cohort studies would be needed as the next step to confirm the suggestions of increased risk.

Awareness of vitiligo among multi-ethnic populations

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo is a common acquired pigmentary disorder reported worldwide. Although asymptomatic, vitiligo negatively affects the patients' quality of life because it provokes psychological stigmatization and social discrimination. There are several misconceptions regarding vitiligo.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of and attitudes toward vitiligo in the general population and in different ethnic groups.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted during which the participants were required to watch a brief video portraying a waitress affected by vitiligo and to fill a questionnaire related to the video content. Participants were recruited from among people who visited a private international hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, and who freely accepted to participate in the study.

RESULTS

Out of 405 participants who voluntarily participated in the study, approximately 30% were able to identify the condition as vitiligo. Approximately 66% and 88% of the participants had sufficient knowledge about and positive attitudes toward vitiligo, respectively. Those with sufficient knowledge scores significantly had more positive attitudes (p = 0.001). However, there were some differences among ethnic groups (p < 0.0001). Arabians had the highest knowledge and attitude scores. Regarding close-relationship attitudes, Asians tended to have perceptions that were different from that of others.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of and attitudes toward vitiligo varied among ethnicities. Only 30% of the study population could identify this condition. Arabians had the highest knowledge score, whereas Caucasians had the highest prevalence of positive attitudes. Therefore, global awareness of vitiligo should be emphasized.

The mental health associations of vitiligo: UK population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo is an acquired, autoimmune depigmenting skin disorder that may affect psychological well-being.

AIMS

To determine the risk and impact of psychological comorbidity in people with new-onset vitiligo.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective observational study, using UK general practice data (2004-2020). Adults diagnosed with vitiligo (n = 7224) were matched 1:4 with controls (n = 28 880). Associations within 2 years of diagnosis were assessed for psychological conditions: recurrent depressive disorder (RDD), depressive episodes, non-phobia-related anxiety disorder, social phobia, adjustment disorder, substance misuse, self-harm and suicide attempts. Healthcare utilisation, time off work and unemployment within 1 year were compared in those with and without a mental health condition at vitiligo diagnosis.

RESULTS

At diagnosis, people with vitiligo had a similar prevalence of mental health conditions as controls, except for anxiety disorder (cases 7.9%, controls 7.0%; P = 0.014). Incident RDD and anxiety disorder were more common in people with vitiligo (RDD: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.25, 95% CI 1.01-1.55; anxiety disorder: aHR 1.23, 95% CI 1.00-1.51). Risk was highest in Black and minority ethnic individuals (RDD: aHR 1.72, 95% CI 1.06-2.79; depressive episodes: aHR 1.56, 95% CI 1.03-2.37). No association was found with other mental health conditions. People with vitiligo and psychological comorbidity had more primary care encounters, more time off workand higher unemployment.

CONCLUSIONS

People with vitiligo have a higher incidence of RDD and anxiety disorder than controls, and this risk increase may be greatest in Black and minority ethnic populations.

The association between social support and depression among patients with vitiligo in China

Vitiligo is a common depigmenting skin disease with profound psychosocial impacts. Depression is one of the most common mental distress. Social support has a significant impact on the psychological status of patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the depression and social support status of patients with vitiligo in China, and further explore the correlation between social support and depression. The outpatients with vitiligo were investigated face to face with SDS (Self-rating depression scale) and SSRS (Social support rate scale). The mean SDS score of the patients was 44.05 ± 6.76, which was significantly higher than Chinese norms (p = 0.000). Female patients, unmarried, disease at rapid progressive stage and skin lesions at the exposed site had higher SDS scores (all p < 0.05). The scores of total social support, subjective support, objective support and support availability were lower than Chinese norms (all p < 0.01), and all were negatively correlated with SDS scores (all p < 0.001). In conclusion, low social support is one of the risk factors for depression in patients with vitiligo in China. More support and acceptance should be given to the patients.

The critical role of glutathione redox homeostasis towards oxidation in ermanin-induced melanogenesis

Vitiligo is a depigmented disease featured as diagnosis simplicity and cure difficulty. Its occurrence and development are associated with a variety of factors, including oxidative stress, heredity and immunity, etc. Existing drugs for the treatment of vitiligo are to reduce the death of melanocytes and induce pigment accumulation as the main treatment strategy. Ermanin, a member of the flavonoids, is extracted from bee glue which is wildly used to treat vitiligo in traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, this article discusses the relationship between melanogenesis and glutathione redox homeostasis by ermanin via biochemical and free radical approaches in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we found that ermanin effectively increased the melanin content at the in vivo model (zebrafish). Moreover, the melanin levels at the in vitro models (B16F10 cells and primary melanocytes) were also increased significantly accompanied with a shift of glutathione redox homeostasis towards oxidation. Ermanin also significantly enhanced the activity of tyrosinase. Meanwhile, ermanin increased the expression levels of TYR, TRP-1, and DCT genes, while ROS accumulation and glutathione depletion mediated the accumulation of pigments caused by ermanin, which increased the production of pigments and regulated the expression mRNA levels of TYR and DCT genes. From the perspective of pigment production regulation pathways, western blot showed that the pigment accumulation caused by ermanin was closely related to the CREB-MITF pathways, it activated CREB, TYR, TRP-1, and DCT proteins. The use of CREB specific inhibitor 666-15 and MITF inhibitor ML329 confirmed that the pigment accumulation caused by ermanin was positively correlated with CREB and MITF proteins. Our findings revealed the potential mechanisms by which ermanin promoted the production of melanin through activated CREB-MITF signaling pathway and glutathione redox homeostasis towards oxidation function as a signal are beneficial to melanin production and will help develop novel therapeutic approaches for vitiligo.

Psychosocial Effects of Vitiligo: A Systematic Literature Review

Background

Patients with vitiligo experience reduced quality of life.

Objective

To comprehensively describe the available evidence for psychosocial burden in vitiligo.

Methods

A systematic review of observational studies and clinical trials identified using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane databases was performed through 1 March, 2021, to assess psychosocial comorbidities in vitiligo. Two independent reviewers performed an assessment of articles and extracted data for qualitative synthesis.

Results

Included studies (N = 168) were published between 1979 and 1 March, 2021; 72.6% were published since 2010. Disorders including or related to depression (41 studies, 0.1–62.3%) and anxiety (20 studies, 1.9–67.9%) were the most commonly reported. The most prevalent psychosocial comorbidities were feelings of stigmatization (eight studies, 17.3–100%), adjustment disorders (12 studies, 4–93.9%), sleep disturbance (seven studies, 4.6–89.0%), relationship difficulties including sexual dysfunction (ten studies, 2.0–81.8%), and avoidance or restriction behavior (12.5–76%). The prevalence of most psychosocial comorbidities was significantly higher vs healthy individuals. Factors associated with a significantly higher burden included female sex, visible or genital lesions, age < 30 years (particularly adolescents), and greater body surface area involvement, among others. The most commonly reported patient coping strategy was lesion concealment.

Limitations

Available studies were heterogeneous and often had limited details; additionally, publication bias is possible.

Conclusions

The results of this systematic review show that vitiligo greatly affects psychosocial well-being. The extent of psychosocial comorbidities supports the use of multidisciplinary treatment strategies and education to address the vitiligo-associated burden of disease.

Protocol Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42020162223).

Graphic Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40257-021-00631-6.

Clinical Features, Immunopathogenesis, and Therapeutic Strategies in Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of the skin characterized by epidermal melanocyte loss resulting in white patches, with an approximate prevalence of 0.5-2% worldwide. Several precipitating factors by chemical exposure and skin injury present commonly in patients with vitiligo. Although the diagnosis appears to be straightforward for the distinct clinical phenotype and specific histological features, vitiligo provides many challenges including chronicity, treatment resistance, frequent relapse, associated profound psychosocial effect, and negative impact on quality of life. Multiple mechanisms are involved in melanocyte disappearance, including genetics, environmental factors, and immune-mediated inflammation. Compelling evidence supports the melanocyte intrinsic abnormalities with poor adaptation to stressors leading to instability and release of danger signals, which will activate dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and innate lymphoid cells to initiate innate immunity, ultimately resulting in T-cell mediated adaptive immune response and melanocyte destruction. Importantly, the cross- talk between keratinocytes, melanocytes, and immune cells, such as interferon (IFN)-γ signaling pathway, builds inflammatory loops that give rise to the disease deterioration. Improved understanding of the immune pathogenesis of vitiligo has led to the development of new therapeutic options including Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors targeting IFN-γ signaling pathways, which can effectively reverse depigmentation. Furthermore, definition of treatment goals and integration of comorbid diseases into vitiligo management have revolutionized the way vitiligo is treated. In this review, we highlight recent developments in vitiligo clinical aspects and immune pathogenesis. Our key objective is to raise awareness of the complexity of this disease, the potential of prospective therapy strategies, and the need for early and comprehensive management.

Association between skin disorders and depression in children and adolescents: A retrospective case-control study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between skin disorders and depression in children and adolescents in Germany.

METHODS

This retrospective case-control study was based on data from the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA). The present study included children and adolescents diagnosed for the first time with depression in 185 pediatric practices between January 2017 and December 2019 (index date) and matched controls without depression. Chronic skin conditions documented within 12 months prior to the index date (i.e. date of first depression diagnosis) were included in the analyses if their prevalence was at least 0.5% in the study population. Associations between nine different skin disorders and depression (dependent variable) were analyzed in a conditional logistic regression model.

RESULTS

This study included 7,061 cases with depression and 7,061 matched controls without depression (mean age 11.3 (SD: 3.8) years; 53.4% female). Three disorders were significantly associated with depression: atopic dermatitis/eczema (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.37-1.64), nail disorders (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.20-2.82), and hair loss (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.30-2.60). In sex-stratified regression analyses, atopic dermatitis/eczema (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.26-1.61) and hair loss (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.37-3.03), were significantly associated with depression in females, since only atopic dermatitis/eczema was associated with depression (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.39-1.80) in males. However, strong non-significant association was additionally observed for nail disorders (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.07-4.01), and pigmentation disorders (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.05-3.54) in females.

CONCLUSIONS

Some skin disorders are positively associated with depression in children and adolescents. Further research is needed for better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and mediating factors.

Nano-Lipid-Carriers for the Treatment of Vitiligo: A Recent Update, Pathophysiology and Mechanism of Drug Delivery

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo is an auto-immune disease with white-coloured disfiguring patches or spots on the skin surface. It is highly prevalent in several corners of the world. This disease spreads in different age groups.

AIM

The main aim of this review is to provide an overview of pathophysiology and lipid-based nano-carriers for the treatment of vitiligo.

METHODS

The conventional delivery systems available have limited efficacy due to less retention of the drug in the epidermal layer where melanocytes reside. In order to overcome these issues, an advanced delivery system with lipid-based nano-carriers for the treatment of vitiligo was proven to be better as per the literature explored.

RESULTS

This review summarizes the pathophysiology along with novel lipid-based nano-carriers for the treatment of vitiligo.

CONCLUSION

Though various treatment regimens are present for the disease, nano-lipid carrier systems are significantly gaining importance nowadays, due to their high effectivity in topically acting on the target site. Nano-lipid carrier systems such as liposomes, ethosomes, transethosomes and transferosomes can be said to be at the top of the list in acting effectively against vitiligo or several other tropical diseases.

Anxiety and depression in pediatric patients with vitiligo and alopecia areata and their parents: A cross-sectional controlled study

BACKGROUND

Alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo are associated with various psychiatric comorbidities, and the care of a child with AA or vitiligo may be associated with higher anxiety and depression than healthy children.

AIMS

We aimed to identify psychiatric findings in children and adolescent groups with AA and vitiligo and to evaluate the levels of anxiety and depression in their parents.

METHODS

This study included 31 patients with AA and 29 patients with vitiligo, aged seven to 17 years, and their parents. Age- and gender-matched 30 controls and their parents were included. The patients and controls completed the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales-Child version (RCADS-C), and their parents completed the parent version (RCADS-P). The parents also completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). In addition, the stressful event history of all cases was noted.

RESULTS

Stressful event history was higher in the vitiligo group compared to the AA group, and it was higher in the AA and vitiligo groups compared to the control group. Separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, social phobia, and major depressive disorder (MDD) scores were higher in the AA group than controls according to the RCADS-C. According to the RCADS-P, panic disorder (PD), MDD, and total anxiety scores were higher in the AA group. Only the PD and MDD scores were higher in the vitiligo group than those of the controls based on the RCADS-P. Lastly, no significant difference was observed between the three groups concerning the parents' BAI and BDI scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Stressful events were more common in pediatric patients with vitiligo than those with AA. Anxiety symptoms were more prevalent in patients with AA than those with vitiligo.

Association between major depressive disorder and subsequent autoimmune skin diseases: A nationwide population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been implicated as a risk factor for various immune-related disorders; however, the association between MDD and subsequent autoimmune skin diseases (ASDs) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of MDD with risk of subsequent ASDs.

METHODS

Subjects were recruited from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. We included 222,522 patients with MDD and 890,088 matched controls to assess the risk of developing ASDs.

RESULTS

After controlling for confounders, we found an increased risk of ASDs among the patients with MDD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 10.41; 95% CI, 9.62-11.42) compared to matched controls. Subgroup analyses showed that MDD patients had a significantly increased risk of developing psoriasis (aHR, 12.01; 95% CI, 10.37-13.91), lichen planus (aHR, 11.84; 95% CI, 8.90-15.75), alopecia areata (aHR, 11.61; 95% CI, 9.92-13.59), morphea (aHR, 6.03; 95% CI, 2.47-14.73), autoimmune bullous diseases (aHR, 7.67; 95% CI, 5.94-9.90), hidradenitis suppurativa (aHR, 8.45; 95% CI, 3.61-19.74), vitiligo (aHR, 7.24; 95% CI, 5.65-9.28), lupus erythematosus (aHR, 11.30; 95% CI, 9.21-13.86), systemic sclerosis (aHR, 8.07; 95% CI, 4.30-15.14), Sjogren's syndrome (aHR, 6.71; 95% CI, 5.29-8.50), and dermatomyositis (aHR, 14.44; 95% CI, 5.55-37.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with MDD had an increased risk of developing ASDs as compared to the controls. Further studies are needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms.

Update on Pharmacotherapy in Psychodermatological Disorders

Psychodermatological (PD) conditions encountered in dermatologic practice include primary psychiatric conditions such as delusions of parasitosis or secondary psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression due to dermatologic disease. The psychotropics include antipsychotic agents, anti-anxiety agents, antidepressants, and miscellaneous drugs such as anti convulsants. Anti psychotics are further divided into first-generation and second-generation drugs. Currently, second-generation drugs e.g., risperidone are preferred over first-generation drugs e.g., pimozide in delusional infestation owing to the side effect profile of the latter. Anti-anxiety agents include benzodiazepines used in acute anxiety and buspirone in chronic anxiety disorders. They are frequently prescribed along with antidepressants. Although dependence and necessity of tapering is a problem with benzodiazepines, delayed onset of action is a feature of buspirone. The commonly used antidepressants in dermatology include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline), selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine, desvenlefaxine, and duloxetine), norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitors (bupropion), tricyclic antidepressants (doxepin, amitriptyline, imipramine, and clomipramine), and tetracyclic antidepressants (mirtazapine). Miscellaneous drugs include anticonvulsants such as gabapentin and pregabalin, naltrexone, and N-acetyl cysteine. The principles of PD treatment are first establish the psychiatric diagnosis, followed by initiating drug treatment. The choice of drugs is dependent on multiple factors such as side-effect profile, drug interactions, and co-morbid conditions. Usually, drugs are started at a low dose and gradually increased. A literature search was done in Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Medline databases, and articles on treatment were analyzed.

Development of Gel-in-Oil Emulsions for Khellin Topical Delivery

Hypopigmentation is a progressive dermatological condition caused by a reduction in the skin pigment, melanin. Its treatment is considered a challenge due to the lack of a highly efficient single therapy. Currently, the main treatments include photochemotherapy, application of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, and laser. Khellin-based gel-in-oil emulsions appear as a promising alternative since they ensure a concentration of the drug, a natural furanochromone, at the desired location, skin surface. Khellin promotes repigmentation as it forms a dark colored complex after solar irradiation. The aim of this study was the development and characterization (e.g., rheological behaviour, droplet size, tackiness, adhesion and spreadability) of three topical gel-in-oil emulsions prepared with different emollients, formulated through a cold emulsification process, and suitable for the incorporation of khellin. In vitro studies were performed to evaluate the drug release and permeation profiles across artificial membranes and excised human skin, respectively, using Franz-type vertical diffusion cells. The W/O emulsions developed showed macroscopic appearance, shear-thinning behavior with a mean droplet size from 3.28 to 4.28 μm, suitable for topical application. In vitro studies revealed permeation values of about 1% of khellin across the stratum corneum, making these gel-in-oil emulsions promising for preclinical and clinical studies. The cold process, being an easy and low energy production method, represents an innovative strategy to produce khellin-based gel-in-oil emulsions to treat patients with hypopigmentation.

Depression and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis

Purpose of review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with negative changes in mental health. This is generally attributed to symptoms of inflammation and the adverse impact of RA on quality of life and functioning. Until recently, causal pathways in the opposite direction have not been fully appreciated. This review examines the recent literature on the risk of RA associated with depression.

Recent findings

Current literature links depression with an increased risk of RA and with a more detrimental disease course. These effects are likely to be partially mediated by negative effects of depression on coping with RA and on factors such as medication adherence, both of which lead to poorer disease outcomes. Growing evidence also suggests that inflammation is central both to depression and RA and may account for some of the complex interplay between these conditions.

Summary

Awareness of a bidirectional relationship between depression and RA through a biopsychosocial framework may assist clinicians in maintaining an appropriate index of suspicion about the co-occurrence of these conditions. This review also suggests an important need for integration of rheumatologic and mental health services and generates hypotheses for future research towards a better understanding of both depression and RA.

Sleep Quality and Depression in Vitiligo Patients

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

Increased risk of psychiatric disorders in adult patients with vitiligo: A nationwide, population-based cohort study in Taiwan

Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease that has a major impact on the quality of life of patients. However, a nationwide study of the association between vitiligo and the incidence of inclusive psychiatric diseases has not been conducted in the Asian population. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the association between vitiligo and the risk of psychiatric disorders using a nationwide database in Taiwan. Data were collected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from 2000 to 2013. In total, 1432 subjects with vitiligo and 5728 age-, sex- and index year-matched controls were enrolled in this study. Patients with vitiligo tend to have more coexisting psychiatric disorders than healthy individuals, regardless of their sex, age group and facility level of care. After adjusting for sex, age, comorbidity, urbanization and facility level of care, the adjusted hazard ratio of overall psychiatric disorders for patients with vitiligo was 2.926 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.646-3.236; P < 0.001). Among them, the highest adjusted hazard ratios were found for obsessive-compulsive disorder, at 10.790 (95% CI, 9.756-11.932; P < 0.001). Vitiligo is associated with an increased risk of various psychiatric disorders. By providing a better understanding of the psychosocial burden associated with vitiligo, these results emphasize the need to evaluate the mental health of patients with vitiligo by treating physicians.

The color of skin: psychiatric ramifications

Skin color is one of the major attributes that defines both individual distinctiveness and differences between groups. There is a preference for lighter skin world-wide, among both light- and dark-skinned individuals, further leading to skin-color bias based upon skin-color hierarchy within certain ethnoracial groups. The psychiatric and psychosocial ramifications of skin color are important in several situations, including (1) disorders of skin discoloration (eg, vitiligo), which can significantly affect the psychosocial development of the patient especially when it has its first onset during adolescence; (2) widespread use of skin-lightening products, which are used despite knowledge about serious toxicity from inorganic mercury and potent corticosteroids that are some of their main constituents; (3) indoor tanning, which is a recognized carcinogen and practiced by over 50% of university-age adults and 20% of adolescents. Educating about photocarcinogenicity does not change tanning behaviors, which is strongly driven by peer pressure; and (4) when a psychiatric disorder, such as body dysmorphic disorder or major depressive disorder, is the primary basis for skin color dissatisfaction. Despite the role of complex sociocultural and psychiatric factors in clinical manifestations involving skin color, a supportive relation with the dermatologist can significantly aid the patient in managing their disease burden.