Stressful life events and loss of hair among adult women, a case-control study.

A case-control design was used to compare stress (as measured with the Social Readjustment Rating Scale) in the lives of 25 women who had experienced recent, unexplained hair loss with that of 25 women with no hair loss. High stress was reported by 22 of the women experiencing hair loss and 10 not experiencing hair loss. An odds ratio of 11 suggests that women who experience high stress are 11 times more likely to experience hair loss. Replication is encouraged.