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Mood Disorder Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women Attending a Specialized Vulvar Clinic in Southern Sweden

Magnúsdóttir Halfin, Helga LU ; Löfroth, Anna ; Siemund, Ingrid LU and Dalgard, Florence LU (2026) In Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease
Abstract

Objectives: – To evaluate the prevalence of mood disorder symptoms and measure the quality of life in women with vulvar dermatoses attending a specialized vulvar clinic in southern Sweden. Materials and Methods: – A questionnaire-based study among consecutive women attending the vulvar unit at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Skåne University Hospital. Sociodemographic factors were collected; depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and health-related quality of life with the EQ-5D VAS. Results: – In all, 217 of 242 women participated (response rate 90%). Data was collected from March 2020 to January 2023. The largest diagnostic group was lichen sclerosus (62%), followed... (More)

Objectives: – To evaluate the prevalence of mood disorder symptoms and measure the quality of life in women with vulvar dermatoses attending a specialized vulvar clinic in southern Sweden. Materials and Methods: – A questionnaire-based study among consecutive women attending the vulvar unit at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Skåne University Hospital. Sociodemographic factors were collected; depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and health-related quality of life with the EQ-5D VAS. Results: – In all, 217 of 242 women participated (response rate 90%). Data was collected from March 2020 to January 2023. The largest diagnostic group was lichen sclerosus (62%), followed by lichen planus (9.2%) and pain disorders (5.5%). Symptoms of depression and anxiety were highest among women with pain disorders (n=12, anxiety symptoms 58.3%, depression symptoms 20%), followed by Candida vulvovaginitis (n=7, anxiety symptoms 57.2%, depression symptoms 0.0%) and pruritus vulvae (n=7, anxiety symptoms 42.9% and depression symptoms14.3%). Differences between these groups were not significant. The mean EQ-5D VAS score was 69.7±19.7. Conclusions: – Women with pain disorders, Candida vulvovaginitis, and pruritus vulvae showed the highest levels of mood symptoms. These findings support the importance of assessing mood symptoms and quality of life in the management of women with vulvar disease.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
anxiety, depression, quality of life, vulvar clinic, vulvar dermatoses
in
Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • pmid:41954173
  • scopus:105037009291
ISSN
1089-2591
DOI
10.1097/LGT.0000000000000949
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
049742e8-60af-474a-a8c1-5556fb49eab4
date added to LUP
2026-05-29 12:43:03
date last changed
2026-05-29 12:43:35
@article{049742e8-60af-474a-a8c1-5556fb49eab4,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives: – To evaluate the prevalence of mood disorder symptoms and measure the quality of life in women with vulvar dermatoses attending a specialized vulvar clinic in southern Sweden. Materials and Methods: – A questionnaire-based study among consecutive women attending the vulvar unit at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Skåne University Hospital. Sociodemographic factors were collected; depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and health-related quality of life with the EQ-5D VAS. Results: – In all, 217 of 242 women participated (response rate 90%). Data was collected from March 2020 to January 2023. The largest diagnostic group was lichen sclerosus (62%), followed by lichen planus (9.2%) and pain disorders (5.5%). Symptoms of depression and anxiety were highest among women with pain disorders (n=12, anxiety symptoms 58.3%, depression symptoms 20%), followed by Candida vulvovaginitis (n=7, anxiety symptoms 57.2%, depression symptoms 0.0%) and pruritus vulvae (n=7, anxiety symptoms 42.9% and depression symptoms14.3%). Differences between these groups were not significant. The mean EQ-5D VAS score was 69.7±19.7. Conclusions: – Women with pain disorders, Candida vulvovaginitis, and pruritus vulvae showed the highest levels of mood symptoms. These findings support the importance of assessing mood symptoms and quality of life in the management of women with vulvar disease.</p>}},
  author       = {{Magnúsdóttir Halfin, Helga and Löfroth, Anna and Siemund, Ingrid and Dalgard, Florence}},
  issn         = {{1089-2591}},
  keywords     = {{anxiety; depression; quality of life; vulvar clinic; vulvar dermatoses}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease}},
  title        = {{Mood Disorder Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women Attending a Specialized Vulvar Clinic in Southern Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/LGT.0000000000000949}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/LGT.0000000000000949}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}