Relationship between Psychological Problems and Quality of Life among Leprosy Patients

Abstract

Context: Depression and anxiety are most prevalent in patients with leprosy, which impact the quality of life of patients.
 Aims: This study aimed to assess psychological problems and quality of life among leprosy patients, and to investigate the relationship between psychological problems and quality of life among leprosy patients.
 Methods: A Descriptive correlational design utilized to fulfill the aim of this study. The study conducted at the Dermatology & Leprosy clinic in Benha City, Kaluobia Governorate, which affiliated to the Ministry of Health. A descriptive study among 100 leprosy patients was recruited consecutively from dermatology and leprosy outpatient. Three tools were used to achieve the aim of this study. A structured Interviewing schedule, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF Questionnaire, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS).
 Results: The majority of the studied patients had a low level of quality of life, Also, two thirds had a moderate level of depression, and about two thirds of them had severe level of anxiety, while the majority of them had a moderate level of stress; also, more than half of them had a severe level of total DASS. Also, a statistically significant negative correlation between the total quality of life and total DASS among the studied patient with leprosy at p-value =<0.05.
 Conclusion: leprosy patients have a low level of quality of life and have a high prevalence of psychological problems present with moderate to severe level of total depression, anxiety, and stress, which impact on their quality of life. The study recommended that to continuous counseling and health education for leprosy patients to avoid or minimize the psychological problems and to improve their quality of life. Psycho-educational program to improve psychological well-being and quality of life of the leprosy patients.

Leprosy patients quality of life: a scoping review

“…Disability due to leprosy is related to greater impairment of quality of life (2,4,26,35,48,57,76) , being higher among those with visible disability (34)(35)(36)(38)(39)54,56,77) .…”

“…Leprosy patients may have compromised QoL, with damage mainly in the physical and psychological domains. The physical domain has a direct predominance in the patient's work and daily activities, and this can lead to segregation, isolation, and depressive manifestations, while the psychological domain depicts the way patients see themselves and relate to the interactional aspects in the environment where they live (2,(6)(7)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) .…”