Depression and loneliness in Jamaicans with sickle cell disease

Abstract

BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is the commonest genetic disorder in Jamaica, and has life-long implications for those afflicted with it. It is well known that depression and loneliness may exist in those with chronic diseases, but the coexistence of depression and loneliness in people with sickle cell disease is not clear. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with depression and loneliness in the Jamaica Sickle Cell Cohort Study and its age and sex matched controls.Methods277 patients with SCD and 65 controls were administered a questionnaire that studied demographics, disease severity, depression, and loneliness. Regression analyses were done to examine relationships between outcomes and associated variables.ResultsDepression was found in 21.6% of patients and 9.4% in controls. Loneliness scores were also significantly higher in patients (16.9 ± 5.1) than in controls (14.95 ± 4.69). Depression was significantly associated with unemployment [OR = 2.9, p-value: < 0.001], whereas unemployment (p-value: 0.002), and lower educational attainment were significantly associated with loneliness.In patients with SCD, depression was significantly associated with being unemployed (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2,4.6, p-value:0.01), presence of a leg ulcer (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.7, 8.4, p-value: 0.001), frequent visits (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2, 8.9, p-value: 0.019), and frequent painful crises (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.8, p-value: 0.035). Not being employed (Coef.: 2.0; p-value: 0.004) and higher educational attainment (tertiary vs. primary education, Coef.: -5.5; p-value: < 0.001) were significant associations with loneliness after adjusting for genotype.ConclusionsHealth workers need to actively look for and manage these problems to optimize their patients' total biopsychosocial care.

Locus of control, depression and quality of life among persons with sickle cell disease in Jamaica

“…Poor QOL and depression are often experienced by persons with SCD (Anie, 2005;Asnani, Fraser, Lewis, & Reid, 2010;Edwards et al, 2005). However, the predominant LOC orientation of persons with SCD has not been well studied.…”

The Effectiveness of Self Management Program on Pain, Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Sickle Cell Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

“…In managing serious and unpredictable complications, patients with SCD suffer numerous psychosocial problems such as reduced self-esteem, feelings of frustration (7), depression (7)(8)(9), anxiety and stress (8), and disruption of interpersonal relationships (10); these often lead to fatigue (11)(12)(13)(14) and poor quality of life (13,(15)(16)(17) in these patients. Bakri et al (10) showed that depression, anxiety and stress are prevalent in SC patients compared with healthy subjects.…”

Associations amongst disease severity, religious coping and depression in a cohort of Jamaicans with sickle-cell disease

“…However, to date, studies investigating this occurrence have frequently produced mixed results with some finding supporting results for this association (Asnani et al, 2010;Hassan, Hashmi, Alhassen, Lawson, & Castro, 2003), while others have not (Laurence, George & Woods 2006;Schaffer et al, 1998).…”

“…As a result, the prevalence of a major depressive episode found in individuals suffering from a chronic medical illness varies from as low as 5% to as high as 40% in many instances, and higher in others (Gibson et al, 2013;Sullivan, 1990). Similarly, studies in SCD report the incidence of depressive symptoms ranging from as low as 21.6% to a high of 56.6% (Asnani, Fraser, Lewis, & Reid, 2010;Belgrave & Molock, 1991;Hasan, Hashmi, Alhassen, Lawson, & Castro, 2003;Wison Schaeffer et al, 1999).…”