title: Mental disorders in HIV/HCV coinfected patients under antiviral treatment for hepatitis C.
abstract: This paper aims to review the epidemiology and management of mental disorders in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients, the need for antiviral therapy in this specific population, and current treatment strategies for HIV/HCV patients with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders. This is a narrative review. Data was sourced from electronic databases and was not limited by language or date of publication. HIV infection has become a survivable chronic illness. Prevalence of HCV infection among HIV-infected patients is high ranging from 50% to 90%. Patients with psychiatric diseases have also an increased risk for HIV/HCV coinfection. The most effective strategy to decrease HCV-related morbidity and mortality in coinfection is to achieve viral eradication. Although psychiatric symptoms often appear during antiviral treatment and may be associated with the use of interferon-alpha (IFN-α), recent evidence suggests that many patients with comorbid mental and substance use disorders can be treated safely. Recent data indicate that IFNα-induced psychiatric side effects have a similar prevalence in HIV/HCV coinfected patients than in monoinfected patients and they can be managed and even prevented successfully with psychopharmacological strategies in the frame of a multidisciplinary team. New antivirals offer INF-free therapies for this specific population.
authors.affiliation: FIDMAG Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain. Electronic address: marta.martin.subero@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin-Subero
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: Crisanto
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diez-Quevedo
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha
keywords: Coinfection; Direct-acting Antivirals; HIV; Hepatitis C; Interferon-alpha; Mental disorders