title: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus among chronic schizophrenia patients.
abstract: We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among chronic schizophrenia patients in Jordan. Over a period of 12 months, 192 patients (106 male and 86 female) were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) by enzyme immunoassay. An equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls was also tested. Of the schizophrenia patients, 14 (10 male and 4 female) were positive for HBsAg while only 5 (4 male and 1 female) of the control subjects tested positive. The difference was not statistically significant but it indicates that chronic schizophrenia patients are a risk group for HBV infection and likely to benefit from preventive measures (health education and immunization against HBV).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Royal Jordanian Medical Services, King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jumaian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens