Assesment of acne vulgaris patients' attention tests during the isotretinoin treatment

Background and Design: This study aimed to investigate any relationship between an emerging attention deficit in patients with acne vulgaris and have cached cumulative doses under isotretinoin treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients (aged: 16-40 years) with acne vulgaris who have reached cumulative doses under isotretinoin medication for over a period of 6 months were included in the study. Using the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), attention was assessed in the patients at the beginning and 3rd and 6th month of the treatment. Results: A repeated measures ANOVA analysis was performed to determine whether there was any change in the SCWT results over time after the first dose and 3rd and 6th month of the treatment. The changes in all SCWT results were statistically significant with respect to time. The time required for each task assessed by means of the SCWT was found to be significantly reduced over time. Conclusion: After evaluating the result of the SCWT performed at the beginning and 3rd and 6th month of the treatment, it was concluded that the treatment with the cumulative doses of isotretinoin was not significantly associated with any emerging attention deficit symptoms or signs in patients with acne vulgaris. It is possible that the patients were trained during the SCWT with the repeated performances in the study, which may have resulted a significant decrease in the test duration. This prospective study suggests that there is no casual relationship between the use of isotretinoin and attention deficit in patients with acne vulgaris.