FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSION IN MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS: AN EXPERIENCE FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Both depression and Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB)are global public health problems that have a substantial impact on humanhealth. However, depressive state among MDR-TB patients has not been wellinvestigated in Pakistan.Objective: To find out the frequency of depression at baseline (at the time ofregistration) in currently diagnosed MDR-TB patients and the emergence ofdepression during MDR-TB treatment in registered MDR-TB patients in PMDT.Design: The longitudinal study was conducted at PMDT centre, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar (LRH) on patients enrolled for MDR-TB treatment from 1th May 2012 to 30 August 2013. A total of 213 patients were included in this study. All newly diagnosed MDR-TB patients at the time of registration and on every follow up.Result: The total of 213 MDR-TB patients were recruited for the study. Out of213 registered patients, 139 (65.5%) had depression at baseline. At the end of1st quarter, only 47 (33.81%) out of 139 still had depression and at the end of 2nd quarter this number further decreased to 35 (15.10%). While the emergence of depression was 36% at the end of both 1st and 2nd quarter.