Pattern of psychiatric illness among tuberculosis Patients an analysis in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and pattern of psychiatric illness among tuberculosis patients. Patients diagnosed as Tuberculosis coming for treatment in DOTs corner were included for the study. Each patient underwent a detailed psychiatric evaluation by a consultant psychiatrist once they were medically stable. Details included socio-demographic data, psychiatric diagnosis and treatment outcome. Among the total 350 tuberculosis patients, total 108 patients (30.9%) were diagnosed with psychiatric problems. Most of them are less than 40 years of age (70.4%), male (71.3%), from urban area (69.4%) with no previous psychiatric illness (97.2%). Depression (n=43, 39.8%) and Anxiety (n=33, 30.6%) were the commonest psychiatric illness diagnosed. Fear of disease outcome was the commonest precipitating factor found (65.7%). 65.7% not expects a full recovery. 59.2% fears of death as a disease outcome. After the psychiatric treatment, 93.5% improved clinically. Detecting the level of psychiatric illness among tuberculosis patients at early stage will improve continuation and adherence to treatment. A referral system to psychiatrists by physicians needs to develop to screen the mental disorder symptoms to treat these co morbidities.