A comparative study of anxiety and depression in primary glaucoma patients

Background: Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of irreversible blindness. Neuroinflammation has a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma and this inflammatory activity has been found in the brains of patients with depression. The need for prolonged treatment and follow-up and the fear of permanent loss of vision in glaucoma imposes economic and psychological burden. Aims: This study aims to assess the magnitude of anxiety and depression in patients with and without primary glaucoma and compare. Setting and Design: Cross-sectional observational study carried out in a tertiary care institute. Materials and Methods: Sixty-five patients with primary glaucoma (primary open-angle glaucoma, primary angle closure glaucoma as cases) and 65 without glaucoma (controls) were selected after institutional ethics committee approval and consent for participation. Detailed ocular examination for glaucoma diagnosis and screening by Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) Depression scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) anxiety scale done for the assessment of depression and anxiety, respectively. Logistic regression analysis with anxiety, depression, and glaucoma was conducted and adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Results: Mean PHQ (for depression) score (19.3231 ± 5.3564) and mean GAD-7 (for anxiety) score (12.1231 ± 4.1098) were significantly higher in glaucoma patients compared to controls (P < 0.0001). The association between PHQ scale score and GAD-7 score with the type of glaucoma was not significant (P = 0.983). Likewise, gender and the magnitude of depression and anxiety (measured by PHQ-9 scale and GAD-7 scale) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Moderate and severe anxiety and depression were significantly associated with primary glaucoma when compared to controls.