FACTORS INFLUENCING DEPRESSION IN GREEK ADOLES-CENTS WITH THALASSAEMIA MAJOR

Introduction: Depression is considered to be a common disorder among people living with thalassaemia major, especially among adolescents with thalassaemia major (ATMs). Certain factors, such as poor social integration, are thought to have an impact on ATMs’ depression occurrence. The aim of the study was to explore the impact of Greek ATMs’ self-reports on depression. Materials and methods Forty-four Greek ATMs, aged 13-18 years (median age:16 years), were invited to self-complete the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) and an ad hoc questionnaire on their demographic characteristics (e.g. gender), family relations (e.g. self-reliance), social incorporation (e.g. body image) and relationships with healthcare stakeholders (e.g. hospital policies and procedures). Regarding BDI scoring, total scores 11-16 and>16 indicated mild mood disturbance and depression, respectively. A p-value<0.05 was referred as statistically significant. Results Of the 44 participants, the 41(93%) Greek ATMs fully completed the questionnaires. The 26/41(63%) were girls. Their median age stood at 16 years. The 9/41(22%) Greek ATMs experienced mild mood disturbance. Demographic characteristics had no impact on Greek ATM level of depression. Greek adolescents with thalassaemia major ATMs reporting that they were not self-reliant were almost nine times as likely as those not reporting to experience mild mood disturbance [6/12(50%)vs.3/29(10%), PR=8.67(95%CI:1.67-44.9), p=0.010]. Greek ATMs reporting that their body image has changed during the course of their illness were six times as likely as those not reporting to experience mild mood disturbance [6/14(43%)vs.3/27(11%), PR=6.00(95%CI:1.21-29.7), p=0.028]. Greek ATMs reporting that they were encumbered by hospital policies and procedures were almost six times as likely as those not reporting mild mood disturbance [4/8(50%) vs.5/33(15%), PR=5.60(95%CI:1.06-30.1), p=0.045]. All 4/41(9.8%) Greek ATMs with depression reported that they were not self-reliant and were encumbered by hospital policies and procedures. Conclusions Psychological profiling and established tools such as the BDI need to be employed to recognize the risk of depression among ATMs. Actions against patient encumbrance due to poor hospital service delivery would improve the quality of healthcare provided to ATM patients in Greece.