Context: Transfusion dependent anemia importantly includes thalassemia patients. Thalassemia major is most common monogenic disorder in the world. Thalassemia is a major problem not only for the patients and their families but also for each country’s public health systems with regard to treatment expenses including regular injections, iron chelating agents, frequent hospitalizations and other medical consistencies and they are vulnerable to, social and psychological problems. Aims: Determination of prevalence and severity of depression in transfusion dependent thalassemia major patients attending a tertiary care hospital. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods and Material: The study was done at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Thalassemia major patients who received blood transfusions for 2 to 4 weeks interval in the hospital were included in this study. Hamilton Anxiety rating (HAM-A) scale and Hamilton Depression rating scale (HAMD) were used to diagnose the severity for each case. Statistical Analysis Used: WHO Epi Info 7 software was used. Categorical data was expressed in terms of rates, ratios and percentage. Results: Males (83.33%) outnumbered females (13.34%) with male to female ratio of 4:1. Nearly half of the study population was aged between 10 to 12 years. Out of 30 patients, 25 were males and 5 were females. Age range was 10 -18 years with mean age of 12.45 ± 2.41 years. The prevalence of depression was 44.34% with majority showing mild depression. The prevalence of anxiety was 36.67% with majority showing mild severity followed by mild to moderate severity. Conclusions: This study help to understand emotional disorders and the severity of anxiety and depression in  thalassemia patients who are chronically ill and undergo prolonged treatment. Early assessment and treatment by psychiatrist will surely help to have good psychological condition.

Keywords: Transfusion Dependent; Thalassemia; Depression; Anxiety.