Depression and protective factors of mental health in people with hepatitis C: a questionnaire survey.
BACKGROUND
Most studies investigating the effects of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection on the central nervous system have focused on cognitive impairment or on the health-related quality of life, but only few on depression.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated depression in HCV-infected people. Sense of coherence and social support were surveyed as protective factors of mental health.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study-design, 81 HCV-infected people with mild liver disease, who were not receiving antiviral therapy, were surveyed by validated measures. Anxiety (HADS), depression (BDI), psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90-R), social support (F-SozU) and resilience (SOC) were assessed.


RESULTS
Higher levels of depression than normal controls (p=.001) and a wide range of psychological symptoms were associated with HCV infection. Women, single participants, and persons with a shorter interval after first diagnosis exhibited significantly higher scores of depression. Gender and sense of coherence predicted depression scores in HCV people (R(2)=.42, p<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of depression in HCV-infected people is modulated not only by biological but also by psychological factors of mental health. Sense of coherence as a protective factor has a significant impact on the degree of depression. Furthermore, the high prevalence of depression and anxiety among persons not receiving antiviral therapy justifies psychosocial screening and support for HCV people independent of antiviral therapy.
Erim
Yesim
Y
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Essen, Virchowstr. 174, 45147 Essen, Germany.
Tagay
Sefik
S
Beckmann
Mingo
M
Bein
Sabine
S
Cicinnati
Vito
V
Beckebaum
Susanne
S
Senf
Wolfgang
W
Schlaak
Jörg F
JF
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires