ArticleBJPsych open2025
Beyond vision: economic toll of untreated mental health disorders in ophthalmic patients.
Article in BJPsych open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMental health disorders such as depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among ophthalmic patients, particularly those with progressive vision impairment. Despite the strong interconnection between mental health and vision-related disabilities, mental health support remains underintegrated into ophthalmic care. The economic burden of untreated mental health conditions in visually impaired patients is understudied, particularly in middle-income countries such as Turkey and Bulgaria.
aimsThis study aims to examine the economic impact of untreated mental health disorders among ophthalmic patients, focusing on financial burden, healthcare access disparities and quality of life outcomes. In addition, the study compares barriers to mental healthcare across ophthalmic conditions and between Turkey and Bulgaria.
methodA qualitative study was conducted using structured surveys and in-depth interviews with 214 ophthalmic patients (107 in Turkey, 107 in Bulgaria). Mental health symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (for depression) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (for anxiety) scales. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses.
resultsOver 50% of participants exhibited moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety, with diabetic retinopathy and retinal disease patients experiencing the highest distress levels. Financial barriers were more pronounced in Bulgaria, whereas long psychiatric wait times disproportionately affected retinal patients. Mental health stigma was higher in Bulgaria, limiting care access.
conclusionsFindings underscore the urgent need for integrating mental health services into ophthalmic care. Policy interventions should focus on financial support, stigma reduction and improved interdisciplinary care models to enhance mental health outcomes for visually impaired individuals.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.