Possible role of psychological and environmental factors in the genesis of chilhood vitiligo

Background: The exposue to stressing ituations may play a role in the appearance of vitiligo. Patients with the disease have a greater sensitivity to environmental stress temperament and character of patients with vitiligo and explore the relationship of the disease with negative life events and life quality impairment. Material and methods: The study population were 21 patients with vitiligo aged 5 to 12 years, and two control groups (G1 and G2), G1 was composed by 14 healthy siblings of vitiligo patients. G2 was composed by 21 age and gender matched healthy students from two schools in Santiago, Chile. The Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), the Qualitative Psychosocial Development Survey (QPDS), the Life Event Checklist (LEC) and the Childrens' Life Quality Index (CDLQI) were applied (LEC only to vitiligo patients). Results: On the temperament dimensions, vitiligo patients scored high on the " harm avoidance" scale in comparison to G2 (13.7 v/s 10.6). Compared with G1, QPDS showed in vitiligo patients a higher frequency of fear to strangers (71% and 36%. respectively) and a predominant feeling of fear and shyness in response to changes in a close relative (80% and 8%, respectively). There was a negative correlation (protective factor) between the character dimension " self-directedness" and CDLQI score (r = -0.703). Conclusions: In this group of patients, we found a possible relationship between a specific tempaerament dimension, vitiligo and its impact on life quality (Rev Med Chile 2009; 137: 53-62).