PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDER IN MALAYSIANS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

All 79 patients who attended a University Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Clinic over a 6 month period were assessed using the Clinical I nterview Schedule for psychiatric disorder. Using the ICD-9 Classifica tion, 40 were found to have psychiatric disorder, 26 having depressive neurosis, six anxiety neurosis, five endogenous depression and three dementia. The group with psychiatric disorder had significantly poor f amily support as well as lack of a confidant compared to the group wit hout psychiatric disorder (P < 0.01). There was no difference between the group with psychiatric disorder and those without psychiatric diso rder in terms of age, duration of illness, ethnicity and severity of S LE. Psychiatric disorder is common affecting more than half the subjec ts and depression was the most frequent diagnosis.