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2026, Vol: 10, Issue: 8
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Original Article
Online Published: 10 Aug 2026
 


Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Saleh Alkhamees, Turki Alkahtani, Sultan Alluhaibi, Faisal Aljarboua, Abdulelah Alansari, Faisal Alrashidi, Fares Fahad Alammari.


Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety among isotretinoin users and also to identify its independent risk factors among this population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 207 randomly selected isotretinoin users in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January to March 2026. Data were collected via a self-administered online questionnaire incorporating the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), with a score ≥8 defining a probable case.
Results: The cohort was predominantly female (76.8%) with a median age of 23 years. Probable anxiety was identified in 55.1% of participants and probable depression in 31.4%; more than a quarter screened positive for both simultaneously. Female sex (aOR 2.82), younger age (aOR 0.94 per year), and a pre-existing psychiatric diagnosis (aOR 5.49) independently predicted anxiety. Prior psychiatric diagnosis was the strongest predictor of depression (aOR 8.24). Body mass index (BMI) was not independently associated with either outcome. The HADS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.85 for anxiety; 0.79 for depression).
Conclusion: More than half of isotretinoin users in Riyadh exhibited probable anxiety, and nearly one in three exhibited probable depression, with prior psychiatric history the single strongest predictor of morbidity during therapy. These findings supported the routine pre-treatment psychiatric screening, with heightened monitoring for female, younger, and psychiatrically vulnerable patients.

Key words: Acne vulgaris, isotretinoin, depression, anxiety, hospital anxiety and depression scale, Saudi Arabia


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alkhamees S, Alkahtani T, Alluhaibi S, Aljarboua F, Alansari A, Alrashidi F, Alammari FF. Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. 2026; 10(8): 2289-2296. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380

Web Style

Alkhamees S, Alkahtani T, Alluhaibi S, Aljarboua F, Alansari A, Alrashidi F, Alammari FF. Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=326197 [Access: August 25, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alkhamees S, Alkahtani T, Alluhaibi S, Aljarboua F, Alansari A, Alrashidi F, Alammari FF. Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. 2026; 10(8): 2289-2296. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alkhamees S, Alkahtani T, Alluhaibi S, Aljarboua F, Alansari A, Alrashidi F, Alammari FF. Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC. (2026), [cited August 25, 2026]; 10(8): 2289-2296. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380


Harvard Style

Alkhamees, S., Alkahtani, . T., Alluhaibi, . S., Aljarboua, . F., Alansari, . A., Alrashidi, . F. & Alammari, . F. F. (2026) Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. IJMDC, 10 (8), 2289-2296. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380


Turabian Style

Alkhamees, Saleh, Turki Alkahtani, Sultan Alluhaibi, Faisal Aljarboua, Abdulelah Alansari, Faisal Alrashidi, and Fares Fahad Alammari. 2026. Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (8), 2289-2296. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380


Chicago Style

Alkhamees, Saleh, Turki Alkahtani, Sultan Alluhaibi, Faisal Aljarboua, Abdulelah Alansari, Faisal Alrashidi, and Fares Fahad Alammari. "Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10 (2026), 2289-2296. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alkhamees, Saleh, Turki Alkahtani, Sultan Alluhaibi, Faisal Aljarboua, Abdulelah Alansari, Faisal Alrashidi, and Fares Fahad Alammari. "Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10.8 (2026), 2289-2296. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alkhamees, S., Alkahtani, . T., Alluhaibi, . S., Aljarboua, . F., Alansari, . A., Alrashidi, . F. & Alammari, . F. F. (2026) Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among adult acne patients using Isotretinoin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (8), 2289-2296. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1782835380




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