title: Psychiatric disorders and functioning in hepatitis B virus carriers.
abstract: The authors compared asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers and healthy subjects in terms of their psychological state. Participants (43 asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers and 43 healthy comparison subjects) completed self-report questionnaires. Psychiatric disorders and psychosocial functioning were evaluated with structured clinical interviews and the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. Hepatitis B virus carriers were more likely to have psychiatric disorders than comparison subjects (30.2% vs. 11.6%). Also, carriers had significantly higher depression and anxiety scores and lower Global Assessment of Functioning scores than did comparison subjects. Worries about contamination and illnesses related to hepatitis B infection were associated with the presence of psychiatric disorder. The results suggest that asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers need emotional support.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Pamukkale University, Doktorlar Cad. Denizli, Turkey 20100. fatesci@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Figen C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Atesci
authors.forename: Banu C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Nalan K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Oguzhanoglu
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karadag
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turgut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires