Tuberculosis and mental health in the Asia-Pacific

Paul H Mason; Annika C Sweetland; Greg J Fox; Shaun Halovic; Thu Anh Nguyen; Guy B Marks

doi:10.1177/1039856216649770

Tuberculosis and mental health in the Asia-Pacific

Australas Psychiatry. 2016 Dec;24(6):553-555. doi: 10.1177/1039856216649770. Epub 2016 May 20.

Authors

Paul H Mason¹, Annika C Sweetland², Greg J Fox³, Shaun Halovic⁴, Thu Anh Nguyen⁵, Guy B Marks⁶

Affiliations

¹ Research Fellow, Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, and; Honorary Fellow, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Glebe, NSW, and; Scholarly Teaching Fellow, Department of Anthropology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia paul.mason@woolcock.org.au.
² Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
³ Clinical Lecturer, Medicine, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, and; Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Glebe, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Clinical Project Officer, Westmead Psychotherapy Program, Westmead, NSW, Clinical Lecturer, Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Country Director, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
⁶ Clinical Professor, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Glebe, NSW, and; Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, and; South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Objective: This opinion piece encourages mental health researchers and clinicians to engage with mental health issues among tuberculosis patients in the Asia-Pacific region in a culturally appropriate and ethical manner. The diversity of cultural contexts and the high burden of tuberculosis throughout the Asia-Pacific presents significant challenges. Research into tuberculosis and mental illness in this region is an opportunity to develop more nuanced models of mental illness and treatment, while simultaneously contributing meaningfully to regional tuberculosis care and prevention.

Conclusions: We overview key issues in tuberculosis and mental illness co-morbidity, highlight ethical concerns and advocate for a regional approach to tuberculosis and mental health that is consistent with the transnational challenges presented by this airborne infectious disease. Integrating tuberculosis and mental health services will go a long way to addressing the needs of vulnerable populations and stopping the transmission of one of the world's biggest infectious killers.

Keywords: Asia-Pacific; depression; mental health; mental illness; psychosis; tuberculosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Asian People / psychology*
Australia
Comorbidity
Cultural Competency
Humans
Mental Disorders / ethnology*
Mental Disorders / therapy
Mental Health / ethnology
Mental Health Services / standards
Tuberculosis / ethnology*
Tuberculosis / therapy

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding