{ "abstract": "Depression is prevalent among people with tuberculosis (PWTB) and negatively affects diagnosis, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes. However, the methodological approaches used to study depression among PWTB have not been systematically mapped. This scoping review aimed to evaluate methodologies used to study depression among PWTB and identify gaps in methodological approaches. We conducted a systematic scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Nine databases were searched without date restrictions. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts. Inclusion criteria included primary, peer-reviewed, research studies that examined depression among PWTB, and reported outcomes related to TB and depression. Data were extracted on study characteristics, TB population, depression measurement tools, treatment approaches, and implementation considerations. Findings were organized using Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. A total of 184 studies met inclusion criteria. Research was dominated by cross-sectional designs (65%), with fewer cohort studies (17%) and only eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs, 4%). The RCTs primarily evaluated psychological interventions that demonstrated modest improvements in depressive symptoms or TB-related outcomes. Depression was overwhelmingly assessed using screening tools with only 28 studies (15%) using a diagnostic interview or clinical criteria. None evaluated accuracy of any screening or diagnostic tool. Studies were geographically clustered, with more than one-third conducted in India or China. Implementation barriers to integrated TB and depression care included workforce shortages and stigma; facilitators included task-shifting and embedding screening into routine workflows. No studies reported on maintenance or long-term sustainability of depression care within TB programs. Existing research on depression among PWTB is largely cross-sectional, relies heavily on screening tools, and rarely evaluates interventions or their sustainability. Expanding population and geographic coverage, incorporating longitudinal designs and diagnostic evaluation, and strengthening implementation and maintenance research are critical for developing sustainable, integrated approaches to depression care within TB services.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America", "World Alliance for Lung and Intensive Care Medicine in Uganda (WALIMU), Kampala, Uganda", "Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America", "Welch Medical Library, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America", "Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America", "Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America", "Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 9, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Amanda J. Gupta" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Patricia Turimumahoro" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Fulera Salami" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Ayden Brennan" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "David Jacoby" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Sheeba Ibidunni" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Lori Rosman" }, { "name": "Jonathan E. Golub" }, { "name": "David W. Dowdy" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1kcs5ex2y3rcb.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007388", "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007388", "id": "1kcs5ex2y3rcb", "issns": [ "2767-3375" ], "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007388", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "2725|Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive science/Cognitive psychology/Clinical psychology" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Clinical psychology" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Clinical trials/Randomized controlled trials" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Diagnostic medicine" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Diagnostic medicine/Tuberculosis diagnosis and management" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Bacterial diseases/Tuberculosis" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Tropical diseases/Tuberculosis" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Mental health therapies" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Mood disorders/Depression" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Drug research and development/Clinical trials/Randomized controlled trials" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Clinical trials/Randomized controlled trials" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Database and informatics methods/Database searching" ], [ "plos", "/Social sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Clinical psychology" ] ], "openalex": "W7214634485", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007388&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-09-28", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1kcs5ex2y3rcb.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007388", "source": "plos", "url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007388" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:clinical trials", "subfield": "clinical-trials" }, { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:clinical psychology", "subfield": "psychiatry" } ], "title": "Methodologies for studying depression in persons with tuberculosis: A scoping review", "title_text": "Methodologies for studying depression in persons with tuberculosis: A scoping review", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1kcs5ex2y3rcb", "venue": "PLOS Global Public Health", "versions": [] }