title: Cognitive impairment in relation to depression, anxiety and virological response in hepatitis C patients in Egypt.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive impairment commonly occurs in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of cognitive impairment in HCV patients before and after 12 weeks of interferon treatment in comparison with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hundred and sixteen consecutive HCV patients were included in the study and divided into treated and untreated groups. All patients were assessed using sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MOCA) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before and after 12 weeks of treatment or observation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight percent of treated patients showed cognitive impairment at baseline, which increased to 69% after 12 weeks of interferon treatment. This cognitive impairment was reflected in the total MOCA score and in visuo-constructional skills, attention, concentration, working memory, language, and short-term memory, which was not shown by untreated group after 12 weeks of observation. Cognitive impairment was associated with low education, but not with depression, anxiety, or virological response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive impairment is common in HCV patients and increases significantly after interferon treatment. It is not related to depression or anxiety in HCV patients. Future research should focus on prevention, treatment and outcome of cognitive impairment in HCV patients, particularly those receiving interferon therapy.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University , Egypt.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bassiony
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yousef
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Raya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Shabrawi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Shafeey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons
keywords: Cognitive impairment; anxiety; depression; hepatitis C; virological response