“SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AND PSYCHIATRIC MANIFESTATIONS AMONG TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS DURING THE COURSE OF TREATMENT: AN OBSERVATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY"

Introduction- Despite the availability of treatment and a vaccine, tuberculosis continues to be a public health problem worldwide. Tuberculosis (TB) infection interferes with the health-related quality of life, including physical, social, mental, emotional and financial domains of individuals. Mental disorders might contribute to the burden of the disease and its outcome. The goal of this study is to assess the most frequent psychiatric issues encountered by TB patients. Our findings identify research gaps that could help bridge the overall treatment outcomes in the near future. Objective- The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate common psychiatric disorders among patients of tuberculosis. Methods- The study was conducted on one hundred sixty patients developing psychiatric symptoms among patients suffering from tuberculosis. Detailed socio-demographic characteristics and psychiatric assessment were recorded in proforma specially designed for the study. Results- Most of our tubercular patients with psychiatric symptoms 70 (43.75%) were in the age range of 31-50 years, on clinical parameters maximum subjects 62 (38.75%) developed depression followed by acute stress reaction 31(19.37%) and adjustment disorder 26(16.25%) respectively. Conclusion- Our research results highlighted the need for mandatory screening of depression and various psychiatric manifestations among TB patients, especially the previously treated patients and newly diagnosed patients during the course of treatment, to improve medicine adherence and treatment outcomes. The existence of psychiatric associations may worsen TB case prognoses and increase obstacles to the disease's worldwide control.