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

August 25, 2025 updated by: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

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.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

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)

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

400

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • Italia
      • Roma, Italia, Italy, 00168
        • Recruiting
        • Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Dermatologia
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Giacomo Caldarola, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The intent of this observational study is primarily descriptive. It is estimated to be able to enroll 400 subjects adhering to the inclusion and exclusion criteria under treatment at the dermatology laboratory. Patients will be enrolled consecutively from 01-02-2025 to 01-02-2026. The 400 patients will answer initial questions about the emotional reactions induced by the 4 diseases and SYNOPSIS_STYGMADERM Study Version 1.0 on 03.10.24 Page 4 of 6 then will answer the questionnaire on stigma toward only one of the 4 dermatologic diseases under study (100 will answer the questionnaire on atopic dermatitis, 100 on alopecia areata, 100 on vitiligo, and 100 on psoriasis).

Description

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.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
primary endopoint
Time Frame: 12 months
Compare the percentage of patients associating the 4 different emotional reactions analyzed (compassion/pity, disgust, blame/disapproval/dislike, and curiosity) with each dermatologic condition under study.
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Giacomo Caldarola, MD, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. gemelli, IRCCS

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 24, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 24, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

January 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

August 26, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 25, 2025

Last Verified

January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 7261

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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