Study on Psychiatric Morbidity Among Patients Diagnosed with Dengue Fever

Author(s): Surabhi Sinha, Jitendra Kumar Verma, Ashok Kumar Bhagat, Kumar Gaurav

Background: During the hospital stay of the patients diagnosed with dengue fever it was observed that the patients had peculiar symptoms of psychiatric morbidity. This study was conducted to identify and assess the psychiatric symptoms of the patients with dengue fever. Method: The patients who were diagnosed with dengue and reported at JLNMCH Bhagalpur were considered for the study. The diagnosis of the dengue was confirmed. The characteristics of the patients and the psychiatric symptoms reported during the acute illness, after 2 weeks, after 6 weeks, and after 10 weeks of diagnosis were recorded by the psychiatric department. The diagnosis of psychiatric disorder associated psychoses with dengue was made accordingly. Result: During the acute stage of illness, the psychiatric symptoms such as delirium, severe anxiety and insomnia was reported. Some other symptoms like depression, panic disorder, obsessive ruminations were reported after 2, 6, and 10 weeks. The symptoms and morbidity progressed into somatoform and suicidality after 10 weeks in two patients. Conclusion: Significant psychiatric morbidity is associated with dengue fever and this illness progresses and remains long term after the dengue fever. Recommendation: This study demonstrates the critical need for healthcare systems to incorporate mental health support into the management plans for dengue fever patients to improve overall patient outcomes and quality of life.