title: Hepatitis C screening and treatment outcomes in patients with substance use/dependence disorders.
abstract: The authors evaluated the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity status and substance use treatment outcomes in an alcohol- and substance-dependent population undergoing rehabilitation. The second aim was to assess the impact of early screening for HCV infection and substance use treatment on HCV treatment outcomes. HCV-antibody testing of 338 patients attending a substance-use residential program was performed. HCV antibody status, lifetime comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, program completion rates, and 6-month abstinence rates after program discharge were assessed. HCV treatment outcomes were followed in patients who remained abstinent 6 months after completion of substance-use treatment. Almost one-fourth (23.1%) of patients were HCV antibody-positive. HCV-seropositive patients were more likely to complete the 28-day program and more likely to remain abstinent at 6 months after program discharge. HCV seropositive status was the strongest predictor for the likelihood of completing the program, and remaining abstinent for 6 months afterward. Patients with HCV who completed a substance-use treatment program were more likely to receive HCV treatment than substance-dependent patients with HCV who never attended a substance-use treatment program. Detecting HCV infection in the structured setting of substance-use treatment is ideal to initiate management of this infection, and it has a positive influence on the outcomes of both substance-use treatment and HCV treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Roanoke-Salem, Salem, VA, USA. AlyRifai@aol.com
authors.forename: Muhamad Aly
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rifai
authors.forename: James Kelly
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Moles
authors.forename: Lauren P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Van der Linden
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons