Objective: Alopecia Areata (AA) is a common disease in dermatological practice It"s etiology is considered to be connected with psychosocial f"actors and psychiatr-ic disorders. In this study it is aimed to determine comorbid psychiatric disorders, and personality characteristics of children with AA. stresfulifevents Method: A retrospective study was conducted with 16 children and adolescents who were referred to a consultation liaison unit of a child and adolescent psychiatry department of a university hospital. Psychiatric diagnoses, personality traits and family attitudes of children were evaluated. Psychiatrie diagnoses were made according to DSM-1V. Results: The most frequent psychiatric diagnoses were anxiety disorders (43.8 %, n=7) and major depression (37.5 %, n=6). Most of the cases (68.8 %, n=11) had introvert personality traits. Psychosocial stress factors were detected in 37.5 % of the families. Stressful life events were present only in two cases. Conclusion: Results of the study suggest that psychiatric disorders may be common and related to negative family attitudes toward children, psychosocial factors and personality traits of children with AA. It is important to assess such children in consultation liaison units of child psychiatry clinics in order to provide psychiatric treatment, so it may improve the prognosis of disease.
Key words: Alopecia Areata, psychiatric diagnoses, family attitudes, personality traits
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