Hepatitis C services and individuals with serious mental illness.
Although individuals with serious mental illness have been shown to be at increased risk for hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection, there is growing concern regarding limited dissemination of recommended HCV related services to this population. This paper presents rates of receipt of HCV prevention services among a cohort of seriously mentally ill adults and reports rates of recommended follow-up care among the subset who tested HCV positive in a pilot study. Previous HCV screening was low and indicated medical follow-up among those who tested positive was also limited. Results stress the need for increased screening and counseling and delivery of preventive and follow-up medical services.
Goldberg
Richard W
RW
Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. rgoldber@psych.umaryland.ed
Seth
Puja
P
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index