Relative Frequency of Depression and Anxiety in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients.

Background: Hepatitis C, as a major public health problem, is associated with increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with hepatitis C and to detect related risk factors among these patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients with chronic hepatitis C who referred to Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center of Isfahan, Iran were studied. Subjects were selected by simple random sampling during a 4-month period. They all completed a validated questionnaire including demographics and information related to depression and anxiety. Zung Self rating Anxiety Scale and Beck Depression Inventory were used. The data was finally analyzed. Findings: Among 264 patients with chronic hepatitis C (262 males and 2 females; mean age: 34.4 ± 6.7 years), 85.7% had no depression, 8.9% had mild depression and 5.4% had moderate depression. Anxiety was observed in 17.9% of the subjects from which 17% had mild to moderate and 0.9% had sever anxiety. There were significant relationships between depression and marital status and job. Anxiety also had significant relationships with history of addiction, job, time of drug usage and place of living. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated the high prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with hepatitis C. Such patients, especially those with related risk factors such as unemployment, being single, etc.) require psychiatry consultation and constant monitoring of psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]