DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY; IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF EGYPTIAN HCV PATIENTS

Background: Egypt has the highest estimated prevalence of HCV in the world (14.7%). Depression and anxiety have been reported as extrahepatic manifestation of HCV, Fatigue and irritability are also common symptoms in HCV patients, which impair HRQL.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate psychiatric comorbidities in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection, namely depression and anxiety and their prevalence in untreated patients and its influence on their quality of life, aiming at improving quality of care.

Subject and Methods: The current study was carried out on 66 chronic HCV compensated patients and 50 healthy controls attending the outpatient clinics in Specialized Medical Hospital, Mansoura University. All patients and control subjects were subjected to medical evaluation and assessment by psychiatrist using DSM-IV and anxiety and depression scale. Chronic liver disease quality of life Questionnaire was done for the patients to detect the decrement in quality of life.

Results: According to DSM-IV criteria, 12 patients (18.2%) had anxiety disorders, 22 patients (33.3%) had depressive disorders, patients with psychological comorbidities had significantly less quality of life than those without psychological comorbidities. Patients with anxiety have better quality of life than that with depression, Fatigue was significantly found more frequently in patients with depression than patients with anxiety.

Conclusion: We concluded that HCV patients are more susceptible to psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety which are usually unrecognized and untreated in large number of those patients so the management remains incomplete leading to poor quality of life, more fatigue and pain. Proper assessment and early identifications of depression and anxiety disorders among HCV patients mean more accurate evaluation and management.