OBJECTIVES : Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that affects 0.5–2% of the world’s population regardless of skin type, age, gender and ethnicity. The condition is associated with increased psychosocial burden, which significantly impacts patients’ Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL). The objective of this study is to assess the psychometric properties of currently available vitiligo specific HRQOL instruments.

METHODS : Comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify self-administered vitiligo specific instruments in English with at least one publication citing psychometric properties in a peer-reviewed journal. Selected instruments were critically evaluated based on nine criteria: item information, versatility (age, severity, and gender), practicality, breadth, depth, reliability (internal consistency and test-retest), validity (content, criterion, convergent and divergent), responsiveness and cross-cultural validation.

RESULTS : Five instruments were identified and evaluated: Vitiligo quality of Life (VitiQol), Vitiligo Impact Scale (VIS-22), Vitiligo Impact Patient Scale (VIPs-12), Vitiligo Life Quality Index (VLQI), and Vitiligo Burden of Disease (VitBOD). All instruments were self-administered and used for women and men, and those ≥ 15 years of age. The time to administer ranged from 5 to 20 minutes. All five instruments showed strong evidence of good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = ≥ 0.90). Only, VIPs-12 and VitBOD reported domain-level internal consistencies. All measures, except VitBOD, reported good test-retest reliability and convergent validity. VitiQol and VIPs-12 demonstrated good cross-cultural validation. Responsiveness was demonstrated only by VIS-22. No studies investigated divergent validity and floor/ceiling effects.

CONCLUSIONS : VitiQoL was the most widely used instrument, while the VitBOD had the fewest items (less respondent burden). Results of the psychometric assessment show strong support for VitiQol, VIPs-12 and VIS-22; the VIS-22 met the most study criteria. Psychometric properties should be taken into account while selecting a HRQOL instrument, along with patients’ needs and study objectives.