Psychological and social risk factors and mental health interventions in tuberculous meningitis: A research progress

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM), which accounts for 1%-5% of global tuberculosis cases, is a severe neurological infection with a mortality rate of 30%-50%. Its high fatality and disability rates disproportionately affect low- and middle-income regions (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia), threatening the lives of patients and imposing significant psychosocial burdens. Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of psychosocial factors, including socioeconomic status, disease severity, and social support systems in recovery. However, research gaps persist in developing TBM-specific psychosocial interventions. This narrative review summarizes and organizes the key findings of observational studies, cohort studies, and intervention trials published between 2015 and 2024. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for terms related to TBM, psychosocial risk factors and mental health interventions. Studies were screened for relevance and quality, focusing on those that examined the psychological and social determinants of mental health outcomes in patients with TBM.