Depression in Korean immigrants with hepatitis B and related liver diseases.
The authors evaluated 50 Korean immigrants who had chronic viral hepatitis or who were healthy carriers for the hepatitis B virus in terms of the relationships between their depression scores, psychosocial stressors, social support, and biological markers of dysfunction. All participants completed a questionnaire, describing their worries and concerns, and the shortform of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-sf). Hepatic transaminases, albumin levels, and prothrombin times were measured during routine clinic follow-up visits and were abstracted from the medical record. Values recorded within 3 months before and within 3 months after the psychiatric interview were correlated with BDI scores. BDI-sf total scores were significantly associated with transaminase elevations (P<0.001) both before and after BDI-sf administration. BDI scores were not associated with other measures of liver dysfunction or other medical causes of depression. Patients with higher BDI-sf total scores had more psychosocial stressors (P = 0.008) and lower Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores (P = 0.000).
Kunkel
E J
EJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kim
J S
JS
Hann
H W
HW
Oyesanmi
O
O
Menefee
L A
LA
Field
H L
HL
Lartey
P L
PL
Myers
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications