The role of alexithymia in quality of life impairment in patients with chronic hepatitis C during antiviral treatment.
This study aimed to investigate the role of alexithymia in the quality of life of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with antiviral therapy. A consecutive sample of 124 patients were evaluated at baseline, during, and 6months after treatment with interferon and ribavirin. At baseline past mood disorders and alexithymia and, at each index visit, adverse events, psychological distress, and disease-specific quality of life were assessed with validated instruments. Patients with past mood disorders and alexithymia had impaired levels of quality of life, psychological distress, and treatment-related adverse events. However, after controlling for covariates, poor quality of life was independently predicted by alexithymia and psychological distress before (R(2)=0.60) and 6months after (R(2)=0.69) the antiviral treatment while during treatment (at 3months and the end of therapy) by depression and somatic adverse events (R(2)=0.67 and 0.69, respectively). Alexithymia rather than history of mood disorders resulted to be an independent predictor of impaired quality of life not only before but also 6months after the end of treatment. Given the association with proneness to health-compromising behaviors, clinicians are encouraged to pay closer attention to long-term psychological and somatic effects of antiviral treatment in patients with alexithymic characteristics.
Department of Gastroenterology 1, Scientific Institute for Digestive Disease "Saverio de Bellis" Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: raffaele.cozzolongo@irccsdebellis.it.
Raffaele
R
Cozzolongo
Clinical Psychology Unit, Scientific Institute for Digestive Disease "Saverio de Bellis" Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: piero.porcelli@irccsdebellis.it.
Piero
P
Porcelli
Department of Gastroenterology 1, Scientific Institute for Digestive Disease "Saverio de Bellis" Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: elsa.lanzilotta@irccsdebellis.it.
Elsa
E
Lanzilotta
Department of Gastroenterology 1, Scientific Institute for Digestive Disease "Saverio de Bellis" Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: vito.giannuzzi@irccsdebellis.it.
Vito
V
Giannuzzi
Department of Gastroenterology 1, Scientific Institute for Digestive Disease "Saverio de Bellis" Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy; Department of Liver and Digestive Health, University College of London, UK. Electronic address: gioacchino.leandro@irccsdebellis.it.
Gioacchino
G
Leandro
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a