Major depressive disorder is common among people with Wilson disease, a phenomenon that has a marked impact on their quality of life, new research shows.
Given these results, the investigators suggested that screening for depression be considered more routinely in patients with Wilson disease.
“Because many patients with Wilson disease are primarily managed by hepatologists, we feel it’s imperative to raise awareness of these mental health issues as an important aspect of their care,” Michael Schilsky, MD, the director of the Center of Excellence for Wilson Disease at Yale Medicine, in New Haven, Conn., said.
The research emerged from a long-standing desire to explore the range of issues facing people with Wilson disease, which affects an estimated one in 40,000 people worldwide.