Prevalence of Major Depressive and Anxiety Disorders in Hemophilic and Major Beta Thalassemic Patients

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of major depressive and anxiety disorders in hemophilic and major beta thalassemic patients related to education of their mothers as a family’s agent. Materials and Methods A case-control study was performed on 34 major beta thalassemic patients. For each patient the control group was selected and matched (with age and sex). Psychological data, including major depressive disorder and anxiety, were assessed by Beck and Ketel tests, respectively. Demographic data included age, sex and mother's educational level. Statistical analysis was performed by chi-square test, using the SPSS 13.0 software. Results A case-control study was performed on 34 major beta thalassemic patients with age 11-38 years old and 32 men hemophilic patients with age 12-55 years old. The prevalence of major depressive disorder and anxiety in thalassemic patients were more than control group, which were significantly further in patients with low level of mother's education. Overall in hemophilic patients, the psychological and demographic data revealed no difference with the control group (P>0.05). Conclusion This study indicated that the prevalence of major depressive disorder and anxiety were more in major beta-thalassemic patients and it was related with mother's education level, but prevalence of them in hemophilic patients was similar to normal population but further study is needed to confirm these novel observations.