Psychological Status and Quality of Life in Acne Patients Treated with Oral Isotretinoin.

INTRODUCTION: The acne patients are at higher risk of acquiring depresion and anxiety, which can lead to reduced quality of life. Effective treatment of acne can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and significantly improve other physiological parameters and quality of life of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the psychological status and quality of life of acne patients before, during and after the treatment with oral isotretinoin. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The prospective study included a total of 127 patients suffering from moderate to severe form of acne. To assess the psychological status and quality of life of studied groups the following standard psychometric questionnaires were performed before, during and after the treatment with oral isotretinoin: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Assessments of the Psychological and Social Effects of Acne (APSEA), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Measure of Psychological Stress (MPS) and Dermatology Specific Quality of Life (DSQL). RESULTS: Results of the present study indicate that there is no increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms in the patients treated with oral isotretinoin. The psychological status by gender has shown the existence of differences between the genders in all measures of psychological status. Statistically significantly better quality of life was observed after healing than before treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed no higher risk of depression and anxiety within the patients with acne treated with oral isotretinoin. Improvement of quality of life after the treatment of acne with oral isotretinoin was confirmed.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of malignant melanoma in area of West Herzegovina from 1997 to 2010.

Incidence rate of cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM), one of the most aggressive skin tumours, is increasing nowadays. Etiology of MM has not been fully understood. Various etiological factors are of relevance for the occurrence of the disease. The solar radiation as well as long term exposure to ultraviolet radiation has the greatest impact on development of this skin tumour. Melanoma risk factors have different associations with melanoma on body sites. This study investigates the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of MM such as age, gender, distribution of MM on the body and type of melanoma in the area of West Herzegovina, on the sample of 205 patients. It presents the occurrence of MM in the period from 1997. to 2010. Both, females and males have increased the risk of melanoma on the trunk (45.9%). Different body sites receive various amounts of sun exposure, yet melanomas occur on all parts of the body. This may represent different pathways in the etiology of melanoma based on body location. The most frequent type of MM was superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) 47.8%. According to our investigation incidence rate was 18.6% (per 1000 patients).

Psychological impact of isotretinoin treatment in patients with moderate and severe acne.

Acne patients are subject to different degree of psychosocial distress. The emotional impact of acne vulgaris due to disfigurement caused by the disease is undisputed. Most common reactions to the acne are depression and anxiety. The use of isotretinoin, one of the most effective options in acne treatment, increases depression symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological status of the patients with moderate to severe acne and to compare patients treated with isotretinoin with patients treated with vitamin C. A total of 85 patients suffering from acne vulgaris were included in the study. The results of this study do not find a significant correlation between the use of isotretinoin and the psychological effects of the drug.