RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Mental health conditions after snakebite: a scoping review
JF BMJ Global Health
JO BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e004131
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004131
VO 5
IS 11
A1 Soumyadeep Bhaumik
A1 Sudha Kallakuri
A1 Amanpreet Kaur
A1 Siddhardha Devarapalli
A1 Mercian Daniel
YR 2020
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/5/11/e004131.abstract
AB Introduction Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease. Snakebite causes at least 120 000 death each year and it is estimated that there are three times as many amputations. Snakebite survivors are known to suffer from long-term physical and psychological sequelae, but not much is known on the mental health manifestations postsnakebite.Methods We conducted a scoping review and searched five major electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE(R), Global Health, APA PsycINFO, EMBASE classic+EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), contacted experts and conducted reference screening to identify primary studies on mental health manifestations after snakebite envenomation. Two reviewers independently conducted titles and abstract screening as well as full-text evaluation for final inclusion decision. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. We extracted data as per a standardised form and conducted narrative synthesis.Results We retrieved 334 studies and finally included 11 studies that met our eligibility criteria. Of the 11 studies reported, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the most commonly studied mental health condition after snakebite, with five studies reporting it. Estimate of the burden of PTSD after snakebite was available from a modelling study. The other mental health conditions reported were focused around depression, psychosocial impairment of survivors after a snakebite envenomation, hysteria, delusional disorders and acute stress disorders.Conclusion There is a need for more research on understanding the neglected aspect of psychological morbidity of snakebite envenomation, particularly in countries with high burden. From the limited evidence available, depression and PTSD are major mental health manifestations in snakebite survivors.