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Psychological implications of hepatitis C virus diagnosis
Muzaffar L Gill1, Muslim Atiq, Syma Sattar
1Department of Gastroenterology, Shifa International Hospital and Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan. gill95@yahoo.com
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis is highly stressful for patients in developing nations. The anxiety experienced often surpasses the stress of major life events like divorce or job loss.
Area of Science:
- Medical Psychology
- Hepatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis induces significant psychological distress and anxiety.
- Understanding patient anxiety is crucial, especially in developing regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the psychological stress and anxiety associated with HCV diagnosis in patients from a developing country.
- To compare HCV-related stress with other major life stressors.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study was conducted with 98 newly diagnosed HCV patients and 100 healthy controls.
- Patients compared HCV stress to divorce, job loss, and relocation.
- Anxiety levels were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
Main Results:
- Nearly 65% of HCV patients reported daily life interference.
- Almost 49% experienced moderate to severe anxiety (BAI Class B and C).
- HCV diagnosis was significantly more stressful than divorce, job loss, and relocation.
Conclusions:
- HCV diagnosis imposes a greater psychological burden than divorce, loss of income, or moving.
- Addressing the psychological impact of HCV is critical for patient well-being.
Background And Aims:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis causes significant psychological stress and anxiety. We thought it would be important to illustrate the anxiety caused by HCV diagnosis in patients from the developing world.
Methods:
This study was conducted at the Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, between February 2004 and April 2004. All patients who were recently diagnosed with HCV (those who tested positive to anti-HCV and HCV polymerase chain reaction) were given a questionnaire that compared stress due to HCV infection with four other variables, including death of a close family member, divorce, loss of source of income and move to another city. We also analyzed the anxiety level among these patients using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
Results:
We studied 98 patients and 100 healthy controls. Thirty-one (31.63%) patients who were diagnosed with HCV presented only with fatigue. Sixty-three (64.28%) patients admitted that diagnosis of HCV interfered with their daily life in some way. Among the newly diagnosed cases, 48 (48.97%) patients had moderate to severe anxiety (BAI Class B and C). Multi-logistic regression analysis showed that anxiety was related to HCV-related stress (P < 0.002) and self-perceived severity of disease (P < 0.001). HCV diagnosis was significantly more stressful than divorce (59.87 vs 70.95; P < 0.013), loss of source of income (50.52 vs 70.80; P < 0.001), and a move to another city (28.32 vs 70.80; P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Diagnosis with HCV is reported to be more stressful than divorce, loss of source of income and a move to another city.
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