Prevalence of Mental Morbidities in a Tertiary Care Leprosarium in North India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease causing substantial physical and mental morbidity. Every year around 200,000 new cases are reported globally. (WHO) Despite continuous efforts to eradicate leprosy, prevalence of the disease is still a concern especially in India. The treatment of leprosy has always focused on elimination of bacteria, correction of physical deformities and preventive aspects with little emphasis on its psychiatric implications. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the link between the disease and mental health of the patient. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidities among leprosy patients admitted in a tertiary care center in north India. Methods: Data was collected from patients admitted in a tertiary care leprosy center in North Delhi by using a well-structured questionnaire DASS-21 which included total of 21 questions, 7 questions each pertaining to depression, anxiety and stress. Findings were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Frequencies and percentages were used and the association between the variables was tested using the chi-square test. Results: Findings suggested that there is causal relationship between leprosy disease and mental health. Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was 28%, 56% and 44% respectively which significant. Of note, the prevalence was higher in adults aged between 25-35 years as compared to adults aged 35-45 years. Patients with physical deformities were found to higher prevalence of mental health issues such as depression (18%), anxiety (28%), Stress (24%). Conclusion: This study found that there was a significantly high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among individuals affected by leprosy especially among those with physical deformities. Hence, appropriate psychological counselling must be considered as an essential part of therapeutic intervention for leprosy patients.