02301nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653003700054100001200091700001100103700001200114700001300126700001200139700001100151245008300162856011100245300000800356490000700364520169800371022001402069       2021                            d  bMedknow10aAnesthesiology and Pain Medicine1 aVerma G1 aRani R1 aTegta G1 aSharma D1 aGupta M1 aNegi A00aA clinicoepidemiological study of psychiatric co-morbidity in Hansen's Disease  uhttps://www.idoj.in/article.asp?issn=2229-5178;year=2021;volume=12;issue=6;spage=847;epage=851;aulast=Rani  a8470 v123 a<p><strong>Introduction:&nbsp;</strong>Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by mycobacterium leprae. Chronicity of the disease leads to various psychiatric co-morbidities, which are often undiagnosed and untreated. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency and nature of psychiatric co-morbidity in patients of Hansen's disease.</p>

<p><strong>Materials and methods:&nbsp;</strong>Seventy confirmed cases of Hansen's disease between the ages of 18 and 60 years attending the department of dermatology of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla were evaluated for various manifestations of Hansen's disease and screened for psychiatric co-morbidity using GHQ-12 and diagnosed using ICD-10 checklist. Severity of depression and anxiety was assessed with HAM-D and HAM-A scales, respectively.</p>

<p><strong>Results:&nbsp;</strong>The prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity was found in 27.14% of enrolled patients. Depression was most prevalent in (20%) mental disorder; followed by anxiety disorder (7.14%). Moderate depressive episode was the commonest seen in 11.42% patients whereas 5.71% patients had mild depression. Generalized anxiety disorder was seen in 1.42% whereas 5.71% patients had mixed anxiety disorder. Patients with higher education status, positive family history of leprosy, lepromatous leprosy, and hand deformities were significantly associated with higher psychiatric co-morbidity.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion:&nbsp;</strong>Patients suffering from Hansen's disease have significantly high prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity complicating the Hansen's disease. High index of suspicion is required to diagnose and treat it.</p>
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