Assessment of psychosis and psychiatric disorder prevalence in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus and their correlation with disease activity and severity: A case-control study

Abstract

Background: Neuropsychiatric disorders and their manifestations seen in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [SLE] are attributed to dysfunction of both peripheral and central nervous systems. Neuropsychiatric disorders and their manifestations are seen in SLE are attributed to dysfunction of both peripheral and central nervous systems. Aims: The present clinical study was carried out to assess psychosis and psychiatric disorder prevalence in SLE subjects, to correlate disease severity with neuropsychiatric disorders in SLE subjects, to compare stress, morbidity, and quality of life in subjects with and without SLE, and to assess the relationship of psychosocial stress and psychiatric disorders in these subjects. Materials and Methods: The following tools were utilized in the present study: MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Systemic Lupus Activity Measure-Revised (SLAM-R) for measuring disease activity, The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL- BREF), Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for 20 subjects of both groups. The collected data were subjected to statistical evaluation. Results: In cases 55% (n=11) subjects had active SLE. Neuropsychiatry disorders were present in 15% (n=3) controls and 60% (n=120 cases. The mean of PSLE scores were significantly lesser in controls and cases respectively were 1.55±0.730 and 3.35±1.098 (p< 0.0001). PSLE scores were significantly higher among cases (p< 0.0001). Concerning the quality of life, it was seen that concerning social relationship domain, physical domain, environmental domain, psychological domain, and total quality of life, the mean values were statistically lesser in cases compared to controls with p-values were < 0.0001. Conclusion: Within its limitations, the present study concludes that subjects with SLE are largely affected by psychiatric disorders. With the increase in SLE severity and stress events, the risk of having psychiatric diseases increases. Also, the quality of life is poor in subjects with SLE and psychiatric disorders.