Abstract
Background: This study aimed to explore the course of depression and anxiety in chronic hepatitis C patients. Methods: Data were combined from two studies: (1) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores in 395 consecutive Australian outpatients from 2006 to 2010 formed the baseline measurement; and (2) Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) scores in a survey of a sub-sample of these patients in 2011 formed the follow-up measurement. After converting DASS to HADS scores, changes in symptom scores and rates of case-ness (≥8), and predictors of follow-up symptoms were assessed. Results: Follow-up data were available for 61 patients (70.5% male) whose age ranged from 24.5 to 74.6 years (M=45.6). The time to follow-up ranged from 20.7 to 61.9 months (M=43.8). Baseline rates of depression (32.8%) and anxiety (44.3%) increased to 62.3% and 67.2%, respectively. These findings were confirmed, independent of the conversion, by comparing baseline HADS and follow-up DASS scores with British community norms. Baseline anxiety and younger age predicted depression, while baseline anxiety, high school non-completion, and single relationship status predicted anxiety. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a worsening trajectory of depression and anxiety. Further controlled and prospective research in a larger sample is required to confirm these findings.
Highlights
Psychiatric co-morbidity is prevalent in chronic hepatitis C [CHC; 1] and results in diminished quality of life [2], increased fatigue [3, 4] and pain [5], and impaired anti-viral treatment outcomes [6]
It appears that CHC itself may be associated with poorer mental health outcomes, with research showing that the rate of major depression was higher in CHC patients compared with controls or chronic hepatitis B patients [7]
The odds of developing new depressive caseness by T2 was 10 times higher than the odds of T1 cases going into remission from depression (p
Summary
Psychiatric co-morbidity is prevalent in chronic hepatitis C [CHC; 1] and results in diminished quality of life [2], increased fatigue [3, 4] and pain [5], and impaired anti-viral treatment outcomes [6]. It appears that CHC itself may be associated with poorer mental health outcomes, with research showing that the rate of major depression was higher in CHC patients compared with controls or chronic hepatitis B patients [7]. Further controlled and prospective research in a larger sample is required to confirm these findings
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