Mental health, hopelessness and quality of life in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Aim: The aim of the study is to compare socio-demographic and clinical data, quality of life, psychiatric symptoms and hopelessness in patients with retinitis pigmentosa with healthy controls and to reveal factors associated with the quality of life and psychiatric symptoms in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Material and Methods: Seventy patients with retinitis pigmentosa and 70 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were admitted to this study. The Sociodemographic and Clinical Data Form, Brief Symptom Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale and Short Form-36 Quality of Life Scale were administered to all participants. Results: Patients with retinitis pigmentosa had significantly higher unemployment levels, suicidal thoughts, and lower income compared to healthy controls. According to the Short Form-36 Quality of Life Scale results, lower mean scores were observed in patients with retinitis pigmentosa compared to controls in almost all domains. However, in almost all domains in Brief Symptom Inventory, higher mean scores were observed in patients with retinitis pigmentosa than in controls. Younger age of retinitis pigmentosa diagnosis, lower income and female gender were associated with lower physical quality of life, and lower monthly income, vision loss without blindness and higher depression levels were associated with lower mental quality of life in logistic regression analysis. Female gender and higher hope subscales scores of Beck Hopelessness Scale were associated with severity of psychiatric symptoms. Discussion: The awareness of the factors associated with quality of life and psychiatric symptoms in patients with retinitis pigmentosa will increase the effectiveness of treatment options.