By Asma’u Ahmad
An Abuja based Clinical Psychologist, Mrs. Maureen Osuji, said depression and anxiety are major risk factors for suicide among sickle
cell patients.
Mrs. Osuji told newsmen in Abuja that Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) was a global health problem with psycho-social implications.
She therefore advised patients to seek specialised medical intervention.
According to her, studies in Nigeria had shown that SCD had a prevalence rate of depression, greater than those of cancer patients
but less than persons with HIV and AIDS.
She said the rate of depression was also similar to those found in chronic medical disorder ranging from 18 per cent to 44 per cent.
The expert explained that such prevalence was a major risk factor for suicide.
“The despair and hopelessness that goes along with depression can make suicide feel like the only way a sickle cell patient can escape pain.
“Suicide talks and behaviour should be taken seriously, such as an unusual preoccupation with death or dying, expressing feeling of being
trapped or hopelessness and acting recklessly,” she said.
She said that studies of depression in children with SCD had shown mixed results including high rate of fatigue, frequent hospitalisation, impaired self-esteem and inability to experience a normal childhood.
Mrs. Osuji listed signs of depression to include loss of interest in daily activities, social activities, sex as well as loss to feel joy and pleasure.
Others, she said, include changes in sleep, anger or irritability, feeling agitated, restless or violent, loss of energy, sluggish and being physically drained.
She said that early intervention was very crucial in managing sickle cell patients as well as adequate psychological support to improve an
individual’s life.
The clinical psychologist identified psycho-educational intervention as therapy focused on improving the knowledge and understanding of
patients regarding their illness.
Other intervention include cognitive behavioural therapy which aims at challenging and changing inappropriate self-defeating thoughts to
enable the patient lead a productive and satisfying life.
