02291nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001260001100042100001300053700001300066700001200079700001500091700001300106700001300119700001200132700001300144245012300157856005900280300001400339490000700353520171300360       2022                            d  bPubmed1 aSharma P1 aShakya R1 aSingh S1 aBhandari A1 aShakya R1 aAmatya A1 aJoshi C1 aGurung G00aPrevalence of Anxiety and Depression among People Living with Leprosy and its Relationship with Leprosy-Related Stigma  uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10043667/  a693–6980 v673 a<p id="st1title"><strong>Background:&nbsp;</strong>Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, is associated with a high risk of psychiatric disorders.</p>

<p id="st2title"><strong>Aims and Objectives:&nbsp;</strong>We aim to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among people living with leprosy at a special community residence in Nepal. We also aimed to find the correlation between anxiety and depression.</p>

<p id="st3title"><strong>Materials and Methods:&nbsp;</strong>This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in a community of people with leprosy staying at a centre in Nepal using all enumerative sampling. The semi-structured schedule, hospital anxiety and depression scale and stigma assessment and reduction of impact (SARI) stigma scale were applied among 119 participants.</p>

<p id="st4title"><strong>Results:&nbsp;</strong>About 10.1% (<em>n</em>&nbsp;= 12) and 12.6% (<em>n</em>&nbsp;= 15) of participants scored above the threshold score indicative of definitive clinically significant anxiety and depression symptoms. In multivariable analysis, leprosy-related stigma and attribution of leprosy to bad deeds were significant correlates of anxiety; whereas leprosy-related stigma and duration of stay at the centre were significant correlates of depression.</p>

<p id="st5title"><strong>Conclusion:&nbsp;</strong>The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among people living with leprosy is higher than that in the general population. Sigma is a significant correlation for both. It is important to screen for mental health issues while managing patients with leprosy and implement strategies aimed at leprosy-related stigma reduction.</p>