Cystic fibrosis (CF) presents significant challenges for both patients and their families. However, the mental health needs of persons with cystic fibrosis (PWCF) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain underexplored. Limited resources, fragmented healthcare systems, and inequities in access to essential CF treatments often compound psychological stressors such as depression, anxiety, and caregiver burden. This review examines existing literature on the mental health and psychosocial challenges of PWCF and their families in LMICs, highlighting the intersection between inadequate physical healthcare and poor mental health outcomes. Findings suggest that disparities in access to diagnostic services, medications, and multidisciplinary care exacerbate emotional distress, leading to poorer quality of life compared to counterparts in high-income countries. Families often experience financial strain, social isolation, and limited psychosocial support, which further magnify mental health challenges. Addressing these inequities requires integrating mental health care into routine CF management, even in resource-limited settings. Low-cost strategies such as regular mental health screening, translating available CF-specific mental health resources, and the provision of brief interventions via digital and internet-based technologies show promise for sustainable implementation. The review underscores the need for increased research in LMIC contexts and the development of scalable interventions that address both physical and psychological dimensions of CF. Ensuring parity with high-income countries demands recognition of mental health as a core component of CF care.
Quittner et al. (Wed,) studied this question.