Advancing Mental Healthcare for Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

BACKGROUND

Cystic fibrosis (CF) presents significant challenges for both patients and their families. However, the mental health needs of persons with cystic fibrosis (PWCF) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain under-explored. Limited resources, fragmented healthcare systems, and inequities in access to essential CF treatments often compound psychological stressors such as depression, anxiety, and caregiver burden.

METHODS

This review examined existing literature, found in several medical databases (e.g., PubMed, PsychInfo, Embase, Cochrane Library), on the mental health and psychosocial challenges of PWCF and their families in LMICs. It highlights the intersection between inadequate physical healthcare and poor mental health outcomes.

RESULTS

Findings suggested that disparities in access to diagnostic services, medications, and multidisciplinary care exacerbate emotional distress, leading to poorer quality of life compared to their counterparts in high-income countries. Families often experience financial strain, social isolation, and limited psychosocial support, which further magnify mental health challenges.

CONCLUSION

Addressing these inequities requires integrating mental health care into routine CF management, even in resource-limited settings. Low-cost strategies such as regular mental health screening, translating available CF-specific mental health resources, and the provision of brief interventions via digital and internet-based technologies show promise for sustainable implementation. This review underscores the need for increased research in LMIC contexts and the development of scalable interventions that address both physical and psychological dimensions of CF. Ensuring parity with high-income countries demands recognition of mental health as a core component of CF care.