title: Case report of 3 patients with severe mental illness and chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with interferon-alpha.
abstract: We report on three patients with hepatitis C virus infection, severe mental illness, and substance use disorders that we treated successfully with interferon and ribavirin. This population has historically been refused such treatment on the grounds that they were unlikely to be adherent to treatment or would experience untoward psychiatric side effects. These case reports add support to the growing body of evidence that persons with severe mental illness and substance use disorders can be successfully treated for hepatitis C with careful monitoring and psychiatric oversight.
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth College Medical School and New Hampshire Hospital, USA. lisa.a.mistler@dartmouth.edu
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mistler
authors.forename: Mary F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Brunette
authors.forename: Stanley D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Vidaver
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luckoor
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014227:Triazines; D005473:Fluoxetine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a; D000077213:Lamotrigine