Shaima Ahmed Farouk
Posted in: Thursday 28 January 2021 – 2:00 PM | Last update: Thursday 28 January 2021 – 2:00 PM
Leprosy is a tropical disease that may cause stigma and discrimination in low- and middle-income countries, and thus have different impacts on mental health.
A recent study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among persons with leprosy and to identify the factors associated with that. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in four states where leprosy is endemic in India, namely: Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, and samples were randomly selected between groups Registered for leprosy at public health or referral centers, and subjects over the age of 18 were interviewed using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires for depression and anxiety respectively.
The study procedures also include collecting patient profiles such as classification of leprosy, degree of deformity, number and location of injury, socio-economic status, as well as individual data, according to the “Blues Journal” of Science and Technology, and the study was published in early January 2021.
Of a total of 220 respondents, the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety was 33% and 19%, respectively, among those with disabilities by 47% and females 46%, and these two factors were significantly associated with depression, and for low-income groups, the percentages had 27% and low education 22%. It was significantly associated with symptoms of anxiety, and as the severity of the disability increased, the risk of depression and anxiety increased.
The study indicates that more than 30% of people with leprosy suffer from psychological problems, which confirms the importance of mental health care services in leprosy patients. As for women with low education, low socioeconomic status, and those with disabilities due to leprosy are at high risk of developing depression or anxiety, it concluded. The study is to give more attention to groups that have been identified as being at risk.
The study authors say that research on the mental health of people with leprosy is not conducted much, and the psychological burden of leprosy is unknown, along with the contributing factors, and an appreciation and understanding of this data is essential to planning interventions and resources to address them.
This study was conducted to find out the prevalence of depression and anxiety in four leprosy-endemic states in India, and a randomized total of 220 patients were interviewed, with the primary aim of shedding light on an important issue related to neglected areas of health care that need urgent attention.
It is noteworthy that more than 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy worldwide, while the disease is easily treatable if it is caught early, and about 6 million people with leprosy suffer from disabilities or life-long discrimination or both, according to the World Health Organization.
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