ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is commonly reported in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC); however, the factors behind the co-occurrence of these conditions have not been completely clarified yet.
OBJECTIVE:
We aimed to evaluate the frequency of mental disorders in CHC patients and to investigate variables associated with MDD.
METHODS:
CHC patients (n=151) attending a referral Centre for hepatitis were evaluated using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatry Interview and the Cut-Annoyed-Guilty-Eye (CAGE) Questionnaire. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate independent covariates associated with current MDD.
RESULTS:
Seventy-six (50.3%) patients had, at least, one current psychiatric diagnosis with MDD (33.1%) being the most common. Current MDD was independently associated with age (≤50 yr.) (OR=2.57; 95%CI=1.25-5.29; P=0.01) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR=2.80, 95%CI=1.17-6.70; P=0.02). Cirrhosis was associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR=5.09; 95%CI=1.73-15.04; P=0.03) and current alcohol abuse/dependence (OR=2.54; 95%CI=1.04-6.22; P=0.04).
DISCUSSION:
MDD is associated with type 2 diabetes in CHC patients. Even in the direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) era, characterized by great perspectives for the first ample cure of a chronic viral infection, we should ensure that the screening for psychiatric disorders takes place in the course of routine clinical care of patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus.
Keywords:
Hepatitis C; chronic psychiatric disorders; major depressive disorder; anxiety disorder; type 2 diabetes mellitus; alcohol abuse/dependence; non-alcohol drug abuse/dependence; cirrhosis