Abstract

EVALUATION OF PSYCHOTIC ILLNESS AND TREATMENT STATUS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

Maria Ayub*, Ayesha Khalid, Leena Baig, Jam Iqra Ghaffar, Sarah Farooq

Abstract

Immunocompromised patients mostly suffer from psychological disorders like stress, anxiety, delirium, neurosis, schizophrenia, depression, mania and dementia etc. Certain diseases leads to decline in immunity, like cancer, thalassemia and HIV patients are known to have compromised immunity. Psychological disturbances have been reported in immunocompromised patients, which may refer to as behavioral disturbances. The authors are aimed to assess the prevalence of psychotic illness in immunocompromised patients as well as the treatment they required. A survey was conducted among 70 immunocompromised patients by the help of questionnaire designed to judge the psychotic illness in immunocompromised patients. The outcome result indicated that cancer, HIV and thalassemia patients required psychological support accompanied with the therapeutic treatment which they are receiving. Anxiety is one of the symptoms of psychosis and about 98% of the patients felt anxiety after being immunocompromised. There is less awareness about the need of anti-psychotic treatment in immunocompromised patients. These patients are deliberately fighting to live against the disease, so in order to give them a better quality of life; psychological support must be added to their treatment.

Keywords: Psychotic illness, immunocmpromised patients, antipsychotics, cancer, thalassemia.