Diffuse hair loss and psychiatric disturbance

32 women complaining of diffuse alopecia were assessed by a psychiatrist, and daily hair loss and root counts were measured and compared with control women. Seven of the 32 women had severe marital difficulties, and 2 of these were overtly depressed. In these 7 women, daily hair loss and telogen counts did not differ significantly from the values for control women, whereas the remaining 25 women had a significant increase in hair loss and telogen counts. It is suggested that those women whose complaint of hair loss seems disproportionate to the objective degree of alopecia should be questioned as to symptoms of depression and marital difficulties.