**4.5 Alopecia and suicidal behavior**

The relationship between suicide and alopecia is not completely clear. Although one report concluded that patients with alopecia areata did not show suicidal thoughts, another study found that 12.8% of patients with alopecia areata were at risk of committing suicide [73, 74]. In further support of the possible increased risk of suicide in patients with alopecia areata, a case series of suicides in 4 boys aged 14–17 years afflicted with alopecia areata within 1 year of diagnosis is presented [75].
