title: The effect of stimulant use on antiviral treatment in an integrated hepatitis clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to determine the impact of stimulant use on antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients in an integrated hepatitis clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of 449 consecutive patients seen in an integrated hepatitis clinic that included co-located mental health clinicians was performed. Psychiatric measures included drug use questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption questions (AUDIT-C), urine drug screen and antiviral treatment outcomes. Patients with stimulant use were compared to patients with no drug use, other drug users and an unknown drug use group using χ(2) and analysis of variance tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 15% of hepatitis C patients presenting to the clinic were using stimulants. Stimulant users had higher BDI and AUDIT-C scores. They were more likely to be followed by a co-located mental health clinician than other groups and were just as likely to initiate and finish antiviral therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent stimulant use is common in hepatitis C patients presenting to a hepatitis clinic. Stimulant users were more depressed and used alcohol to a greater degree than nonusers but were as likely to start antiviral therapy. An integrated mental health/medical care approach appears to be effective in addressing this difficult-to-treat population.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. Eric.dieperink@va.gov
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Dieperink
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Knott
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Thuras
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Pocha
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents