AB1425 MENTAL DISTRESS AND ITS CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN A RHEUMATOLOGY CENTER IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Background: According to World Health Organization 2021, approximately 1 in 7 from the age group of 10-19 years old encountered mental health conditions [1]. Multiple factors can affect their mental health including their underlying medical conditions and depression may influence both reporting symptoms and response to treatment. This study is to investigate the prevalence of depression among adolescents diagnosed with rheumatic diseases by using CES-D questionnaire and to determine its contributing factors. Objectives: To screen for depression by using center for epidemiologic studies depression (CES-D) among adolescents diagnosed with rheumatic diseases and to determine its contributing factors. Methods: This was a survey interview. All rheumatology patients from the age group of 12-21 who followed up in rheumatology clinic Hospital Sultan Ismail from March 2020 to December 2021 were identifed and interviewed. Demographic data, clinical data and disease duration were identifed and the results were analysed by using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. Results: A total of 71 patients were identifed. 93% of them were female (66/71) and majority of them were Malay (60.6%). This was followed by Chinese (23.9%), Indian (7%) and others (8.5%). The mean age group was 16 (range from 12 to 21). 85.9% of them were diagnosed to have systemic lupus erythematosus. 5.6% of them were having juvenile idiopathic arthritis followed by 2.8 % for each juvenile dermatomyositis and psoriatic arthritis. The rest of them were having mixed connective tissues disease and rheumatoid arthritis with the percentage of 1.4% for both diseases. 57.7% of the respondents were having inactive disease during the interview session. From our survey, it showed that 53.5 % of the respondents were considered depressed with the score of 16 points and above according to the cut off point determined by CES-D questionnaire. The statistics showed association in between disease activity with the score of depression by using Chi Square (p<0.015). However, there was no association between the races and the score of depression (p = 0.1, using Chi Square). There was also no association between duration of disease with the score of depression. (p= 0.485, by using independent t-test). Conclusion: Our study showed the prevalence of depression amongst adolescents diagnosed with rheumatic diseases are more than 50% and there was an association between depression score and disease activity. Hence, it is recommended to routinely screen for depression among adolescent as it helps to improve their response and compliant to treatment. Treat to target approach must always be implemented by treating physician to keep disease in remission and indirectly helps to reduce emotional distress among patients.