Citation

Dieperink E, Ho SB, Tetrick L, Thuras P, Dua K, Willenbring ML. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 2004; 26(3): 237-240.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2004.01.003

PMID

15121353

Abstract

Psychiatric and substance use disorders affect most patients with chronic hepatitis C and are the most common reasons for exclusion from antiviral therapies. Suicidal ideation (SI) is often cited as a reason to exclude patients from interferon-based treatment or to terminate antiviral treatment that is in progress. This study examines SI in hepatitis C patients untreated and treated with interferon-alpha2b, a medication commonly associated with depression. Fifty-five subjects with chronic hepatitis C were followed for 24 weeks with three measures of depression, each containing one item assessing SI. A total of 15/55 (27%) subjects reported SI while not on interferon therapy. Of the 42 patients treated with interferon, 18 (43%) endorsed SI at some point during antiviral treatment. However, 17/18 (94%) finished at least a 6-month course of interferon therapy. No subjects attempted suicide. Although SI in some form is common in hepatitis C patients, in most cases it is mild in nature. With adequate support most patients can successfully complete a full course of antiviral treatment.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Contraindications; Depressive Disorder, Major; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Services Accessibility; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Interferon alpha-2; Interferon-alpha; Male; Middle Aged; Minnesota; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Recombinant Proteins; Sertraline; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide; Veterans; Wisconsin