title: Depression in hepatitis B and C, and its correlation with hepatitis drugs consumption (interfron/lamivodin/ribaverin).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic infection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C are considered as the most important infectious diseases, which lead to drastic consequences such as liver dysfunction. Depression is a psychiatric disorder which is concomitantly present in these patients, and decreases the patients' quality of life. It may lead to suicide, homicide or intentional transmission of infectious to others. Medical treatment with interferon can also lead to depression which is comparable to the depression caused by disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross sectional study on 205 patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection. We aimed to determine the prevalence of depression via Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and its correlates with hepatitis drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 205 patients, 154 cases had hepatitis B and 51 cases had hepatitis C infection. The frequency of depression was 68% in hepatitis B and 86% in hepatitis C infected patients (p<0.05). The frequency of mild depression was 14%, moderate depression was 57.3% and severe depression was 28.7% (p<0.05). Depression frequency in Interferon recipients was 100%, in interferon-ribavirin recipients was 94.4%, in lamivudine recipients was 64%, and in patients that receive no drug was 66.7%. Depression prevalence was significantly higher among those on interferon therapy (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high prevalence of depression among patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection, especially patients on interferon therapy. Hence these patients should be repeatedly evaluated for depression.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
authors.affiliation: Department of infectious disease, Mazandaran university of Medical Science.
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alian
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Department of Psychiatriy, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masoudzadeh
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Development Unit of Imam Khomeini hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Science.
authors.forename: Talayeh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khoddad
authors.affiliation: Medical doctor, Mazandaran University of Medical Science.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dadashian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Mazandaran University of Medical Science.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ali Mohammadpour
keywords: Chronic Hepatitis B; Chronic Hepatitis C; Depression Prevalence