Stigmatization Has a Debilitating Impact on Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Greater feelings of stigmatization (FoS) in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are associated with worse quality of life (QOL), depression, and increased social anxiety, according to a study published in the Archives of Dermatological Research.

Researchers performed an observational study that aimed to assess how FoS may relate to patient QOL, depression, and social anxiety. QOL was assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index, depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, social anxiety with the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and stigmatization with an adapted version of the Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire.

When compared with patients with less FoS, patients with greater FoS had worse QOL scores (18.1 vs 6.7, P < .001), higher levels of depression (11.1 vs 4.9, P < .001), and more social anxiety (30.1 vs 23.2, P < .001).

“HS is a debilitating, complex disease and, in our cohort, most participants felt stigmatized, regardless of disease severity,” concluded the study authors. “Participants who felt more stigmatized were also more likely to have worse QOL, more social anxiety, and depression,” they added.

Reference
Singh R, Kelly KA, Senthilnathan A, Feldman SR, Pichardo RO. Stigmatization, a social perception which may have a debilitating impact on hidradenitis suppurativa patients: an observational study. Arch Dermatol Res. Published online October 31, 2022. doi:10.1007/s00403-022-02412-5