Patient case: Depression in Sub-Saharan Africa
A 24-year-old woman from a small village in rural Tanzania presents to a health clinic with complaints of persistent fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and a lack of interest in activities she once enjoyed, such as farming and spending time with her family. For the past six months, she has felt overwhelming sadness, crying often without understanding why. She reports losing her appetite and having frequent thoughts that life is not worth living, though she has not acted on these thoughts.
Her family initially dismissed her symptoms as stress or exhaustion, advising her to rest more. However, despite resting, her mood did not improve. In her community, mental health problems are rarely discussed, and emotional suffering is often seen as a sign of personal weakness or spiritual imbalance. She visited a traditional healer, who performed cleansing rituals, but her condition continued to deteriorate.
When she finally sought help at the clinic, the healthcare provider recognized the signs of major depressive disorder. After a full evaluation, she was started on antidepressant medication and referred to a counsellor for regular sessions. The clinic also worked to educate her family on depression, helping to reduce the stigma and encouraging their support in her recovery.
With time, the combination of medication, counselling, and family involvement helped alleviate her symptoms, though she remained in follow-up care to ensure long-term management and prevent relapse.
A). Frequent headaches and nausea
B). Persistent fatigue, sadness, and lack of interest in activities
C). Hallucinations and delusions
D). Chest pain and shortness of breath
A). Witchcraft or spiritual possession
B). Personal weakness
C). Stress or exhaustion
D). Nutritional deficiency
A). Provided herbal medication
B). Conducted cleansing rituals
C). Referred her to a hospital
D). Performed physical therapy
A). Anxiety disorder
B). Bipolar disorder
C). Major depressive disorder
D). Schizophrenia
