Why should national TB programmes prioritise co-morbid mental health disorders in MDR-TB patients?

Evidence suggests MDR-TB patients often have symptoms of mental disorders and suffer social stigma and discrimination

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 31 July 2017

Document Type:: Briefing
Theme:: Health
Authors:: COMDIS

Abstract

Evidence suggests Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients often have symptoms of mental disorders and suffer social stigma, discrimination and psychological distress.

This policy brief recommends that the principles of the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme should be integrated into national TB treatment programmes. Routine, proactive mental health screening should be incorporated into guidance and robust research is needed to test clearly-defined psychosocial support interventions.

This research is supported by the Department for International Development’s COMDIS-HSD Programme which is led by the University of Leeds

Citation

COMDIS-HSD (2017). Why should national TB programmes prioritise co-morbid mental health disorders in MDR-TB patients? COMDIS-HSD Policy Brief. Leeds: COMDIS-HSD