Mental health in skin neglected tropical diseases

Neglected tropical skin diseases (SNTDs) include at least nine conditions affecting more than one billion people worldwide. While their physical manifestations have been studied in detail, the mental health consequences are highly under-researched and underreported, often limited to specific conditions. This article summarizes existing literature on mental health aspects of individual SNTDs ranging from depression, anxiety, stigma, social isolation, post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, and developmental impacts on growing children. While evidence is more for leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, and scabies, a huge gap is seen in yaws, fungal, and other ectoparasitic infections. Incorporating routine mental health screening in dermatology and primary care centers and prompt referral may improve patient outcomes and quality of life significantly.