Bulgarian Journal of Psychiatry, 2025; 10(3):36-39
Consultation liaison psychiatry service in improving treatment adherence of a patient with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in the COVID-19 pandemic: a case report
Maria Francisca Intan Primasiwi Lolobua1,2, Azimatul Karimah1,2, Soedarsono3,4
1Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
2Department of Psychiatry – Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
3Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine,
Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
4Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine – Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
Abstract. The COVID-19 pandemic’s significant effects on socioeconomics lead to difficulties in managing patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). Stigma and financial difficulty tend to hinder the adherence of receiving treatment. The objective of this paper was to demonstrate Consultation liaison psychiatry’s (CLP) services effect in helping facilitate the treatment of MDR TB patients by improving treatment adherence in the COVID period. In this case, we describe a 27-year-old working mother who was diagnosed with MDR TB after GeneXpert MTB/RIF showed resistance to rifampicin. The patient had adjustment disorder, in denial phase, and not adherent to treatment issue. The CLP service played a critical role in improving adherence to treatment in the MDR TB patient, whose condition was additionally worsened by the socioeconomic situation and health institution policy change in COVID-19 pandemic era.
Key words: consultation liaison psychiatry, COVID-19, MDR tuberculosis, treatment adherence