Investigation on the Anxiety and Depression Status of Thalassemia Carriers After Genetic Counseling

Genetic disorders have psychological impacts on patients. We examined the status of anxiety and depression among thalassemia carriers after genetic counseling in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

From June 2017 to April 2021, 131 thalassemia carriers ≥ 12 years old received genetic counseling, and were issued questionnaires; among them, 82 (62.6%) questionnaires were completed and returned. We assessed anxiety and depression levels in thalassemia carriers using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to obtain clinical indicators from the hospitals. We used nonparametric tests or Spearman correlation analysis to assess the correlations between anxiety, depression, and the independent variables.

The frequencies of anxiety and depression were both 3.7%. Participants with more than a high school education had lower depression scores than those with less education (P = 0.005). Red blood cell count (RBC) counts was negatively correlated with depression scores (r = -0.274, P = 0.043). Furthermore, total cholesterol (TC) was negatively correlated with anxiety (r = -0.374, P = 0.017) and depression (r = -0.379, P = 0.016) scores.

The frequencies of anxiety and depression among thalassemia carriers receiving genetic counseling in Taizhou were both 3.7%, lower than those previously reported. These preliminary findings suggest a potential association between genetic counseling and reduced psychological distress. In addition, we found RBC and TC negatively affect mental status in thalassemia, these carriers need to pay attention to their diet and undergo regular monitoring.