Evaluation of Stigma Toward Patients With Alopecia Areata, Atopic Dermatitis, Vitiligo, and Psoriasis

Evaluation of Stigma Toward Patients With Alopecia Areata, Atopic Dermatitis, Vitiligo, and Psoriasis

Primary objective:

The primary objective is to evaluate in the general population the difference between emotional reactions associated with facial involvement by four major dermatologic diseases: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and alopecia areata.

• Compare the social distance and stereotyping by the general population toward individuals with facial involvement by: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and alopecia areata.
• Evaluate demographic factors that describe a greater tendency toward stigmatization.

Basic demographic characteristics (Gender, Age, Employment status, Education level) will be recorded for each patient.

Participants will be asked to observe images depicting faces of individuals with atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and psoriasis (generated through artificial intelligence systems). They will be asked to select the individual from those shown that generates the most compassion/pity, disgust, blame/disapproval/disdain, and curiosity for them, analyzing the same emotional responses investigated in a study on stigma toward psoriasis patients.

In addition, each participant will be given a 14-question questionnaire on stigma (analyzing social distance and stereotyping) toward one of the four diseases under investigation (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, or alopecia areata), selected randomly. For each question, responses will be expressed from 1 to 5, on a Likert scale, with lower scores indicating greater stigma. (Total score between 14 and 70)

Inclusion Criteria:

• -Patients aged>18 years, both sexes;
• Signature of written informed consent;

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo or alopecia areata.
• Patients with first-degree relatives with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo or alopecia areata
• Those who for professional or personal reasons have direct knowledge of the diseases in question.