Evaluation of psychiatric morbidity and quality of life in inactive HbsAg carriers

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection develops in forms from asymptomatic carrier to cirrhosis. There are several studies examining the quality of life of patients with HBV in literature. However, only two studies have investigated the psychiatric morbidity in hepatitis B patients. In this study, we evaluated psychiatric morbidity and quality of life in inactive HbsAg carriers. This case-controlled study was performed among 26 healthy volunteers as control group and 31 inactive HbsAg carriers. Seven (22.5%) of our Hepatitis B patients were found to have an Axis I psychiatric diagnosis. For the carriers, the diagnoses made were major depression (3 patients), major depression with conversion disorder (1 patient), moderate depressive disorder (1 patient), cyclothymic disorder (1 patient), and obsessivecompulsive disorder (1 patient). No significant difference was found between carriers and controls in terms of quality of life scores and anxiety and depression scores. According to these findings, the patients with hepatitis should undergo psychiatric evaluation by a specialist. Also, physicians should be aware that emotional and psychiatric support is not necessary for all of the patients with hepatitis B.