title: Neuropsychiatric symptoms of hepatitis C.
abstract: More than 4 million (2%) people in the United States have been infected with the hepatitis C virus, of whom 2.7 million are chronically infected. The current treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients is Interferon and ribavirin combination therapy, which is associated with numerous neuropsychiatric side effects. The most common are fatigue, depression, cognitive dysfunction, and anxiety. Early identification and treatment of these symptoms may not only improve the patient's mental health, but also may increase the patient's functional ability and overall quality of life. Psychiatric nurses can play a pivotal role in the successful management of the neuropsychiatric symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA. jana.saunders@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Jana C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin