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Impact of childhood vitiligo on adult life
Author(s) -
Linthorst Homan M.W.,
De Korte J.,
Grootenhuis M.A.,
Bos J.D.,
Sprangers M.A.G.,
Van Der Veen J.P.W.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08788.x
Subject(s) - vitiligo , psychosexual development , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , young adult , early childhood , disease , pediatrics , psychiatry , clinical psychology , dermatology , developmental psychology , gerontology , psychology , nursing
Summary Background The onset of vitiligo occurs before the age of 20 years in 50% of patients. Having a chronic disease in childhood can impede a child’s health‐related quality of life (HRQL). Objectives Firstly, to compare the social and psychosexual development and current HRQL of young adult patients with childhood vitiligo with those of a group of healthy controls. Secondly, to compare these outcomes in patients reporting negative childhood experiences with those of patients not reporting negative childhood experiences. Methods Eligible patients were mailed questionnaires on (i) sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, (ii) social and psychosexual development, (iii) generic and dermatology‐specific HRQL, (iv) presence of negative childhood experiences related to vitiligo, (v) specification of these negative experiences and (vi) patients’ recommendations for further care. Results A total of 232 patients with vitiligo completed the questionnaires. Social and psychosexual development and generic HRQL in young adult patients with childhood vitiligo were not different from those of healthy controls. However, patients reporting negative childhood experiences reported significantly more problems in social development than those not reporting negative experiences. Furthermore, negative childhood experiences were significantly associated with more HRQL impairment in early adulthood. Conclusions Reporting negative experiences from childhood vitiligo appears to be associated with HRQL impairment in young adults with vitiligo.