The effects of tuberculosis treatment on quality of life, anxiety and depression

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to observe the health-related quality of life and depression and anxiety symptoms of newly diagnosed patients who were taking four-drug anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) therapy during the treatment period. Methods: The TB-diagnosed patients who were taking four-drug TB therapy and suitable for this study were followed up during the treatment period in the providence of Eskisehir. The patients were assessed according to the Short From-36 (SF-36) health quality, Beck depression, and Beck anxiety scales at three months and at the end of this study (six months). Results: Significant improvements were observed in all SF-36 components at the end of this study (p< 0.001). When compared with the beginning and the end of the treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease in Beck depression and anxiety scores (p<0.001). Conclusion: Improvement in the patients' Beck depression-anxiety and life quality scores without additional psychiatric treatment is an important finding. These scientific outcomes show that, like other chronic diseases, TB may cause psychiatric problems.