Abstract:
Dysphagia and mental health are intertwined. 1 in every eight persons globally suffers
from a mental disorder. People with mental health disorders are faced unique challenges
that can impact their health outcomes when experiencing swallowing difficulty. This
population faces a unique challenge because of the negative consequences of
medication.
This study set out to explore the prevalence and severity of dysphagia among mental
health patients in a specialized hospital in Bangladesh. It is a cross-sectional inquiry
was performed on 190 subjects diagnosed with mental health disorders to investigate
prevalence among dysphagia. A purposive sampling method was used to select the
study population, and the research took place at the NIMH, CRP—Rabia Noor Mental
Health Day Centre, and Mental Health Day Centre, CRP-Mirpur. The Eating
Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) was assigned for data collection.
Within the population studied, 73% (138) of total respondents reported suspected
dysphagia. 47% (89) of individuals had dysphagia, which raised clinical concern, and
26% (49) had aspiration risk dysphagia. Patients aged 18–27 years were
disproportionately affected, with 27.4% of patients having suspected dysphagia and
10% being classified as at risk of aspiration. Significant relationships exist between
smoking history, gastrointestinal history, and antipsychotic medication use with
dysphagia severity & they were highlighted as markers of severe dysphagia
This study enhanced the prevalence of dysphagia among patients with mental
disorders. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive dysphagia assessment in the
periphery of mental health, focusing on high-risk factors and long-term medication use.
Speech and language therapists (SLTs) are integral in treating and SLTs represent a
potential opportunity to improve mental healthcare if integrated into the existing
mental healthcare delivery systems despite the limited healthcare resources. This study
provides encouraging data to support dysphagia screening and collaborative efforts to
improve outcomes for this high-risk population. SLT and mental disorder patients have
this great chance to raise awareness of dysphagia.
Keywords: Dysphagia, Mental Illness, Antipsychotic medication
Description:
This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Speech and Language Therapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
