Prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression amongst leprosy patients in Madhesh Province of Nepal

Introduction Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease associated with significant social stigma and psychological distress. Anxiety and depression are common among individuals affected by leprosy but are often overlooked in routine care in Nepal. This study assesses the prevalence of anxiety and depression among leprosy patients and identifies associated factors. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 146 leprosy patients using systematic random sampling. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales, respectively. Data were entered into Epi-data 3.1 and analysed using SPSS 26. Result Around 50% had anxiety symptoms and 54% had depressive symptoms. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, illiteracy and higher diagnostic costs were independently associated with anxiety. Female sex, illiteracy and the presence of leprosy in the neighbourhood were independently associated with depression. Conclusion Anxiety and depression were highly prevalent among leprosy patients. Illiteracy and high diagnostic costs were key factors associated with anxiety, while female sex, illiteracy, and neighbourhood clustering of leprosy were associated with depression. These findings highlight the need to integrate routine mental health screening and psychosocial support into leprosy care services.