Psychiatric disturbances among leprosy patients. An epidemiological study.

An epidemiological study was done to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disturbances among leprosy patients. Using a stratified random sampling technique, 540 subjects with leprosy were selected from a total population of 5745 leprosy patients. A mental health evaluation was conducted on 494 of these subjects. Forty-nine of these patients were found to have a psychiatric disturbance, giving a prevalence rate of about 99 per 1000. Depressive reaction was the most common disturbance seen. Those patients who were sick for a longer time and those who developed physical deformities were found to be more prone to get psychiatric disturbances. It is emphasized that supportive psychotherapy is important in the management and rehabilitation of leprosy patients.