Abstract :
Background: Chronic periodontitis is a multifactorial disease which is influenced by a variety of risk factors including psychosocial factors such as depression and stress that are known to affect the immune system thereby affecting the periodontal tissue.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between periodontal parameters and depression.
Materials and Methods: 35 patients with periodontitis as test group and 35 periodontally healthy patients as control group were included. Oral hygiene index and Community periodontal index of treatment needs was measured for all cases. Depression levels were assessed by Beck’s depression inventory.
Results: All the parameters were statistically significant in test group as compared to control group. Beck’s depression inventory showed that periodontal patients had a significantly higher total depression score than control group.
Conclusion: This study reveals that there is a positive correlation between the severity of periodontal disease and the severity of depression in patients.
Keyword :
Chronic periodontitis, Depression, stress, Becks depression inventory.