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Fatigue in chronic hepatitis C infection: Understanding patients' experience from a cognitive-behavioural perspective

Dora Zalai1, Colleen E Carney1, Morris Sherman2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

British Journal of Health Psychology
|August 8, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Fatigue is a major concern for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study explored fatigue from a cognitive-behavioural perspective, identifying unique aspects in HCV patients that can inform new treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Psychology
  • Hepatology
  • Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

  • Fatigue is a significant and often under-treated symptom in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  • The characteristics of fatigue in HCV are not well understood from a cognitive-behavioural viewpoint.
  • Current management of fatigue in HCV is limited due to poor characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the common and unique aspects of fatigue in individuals with chronic HCV infection.
  • To document fatigue from a cognitive-behavioural perspective in HCV patients.
  • To identify potential targets for cognitive-behavioural interventions for HCV-related fatigue.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional, qualitative study utilizing a critical realism approach.
  • Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen adult participants diagnosed with HCV and experiencing significant fatigue.
  • Interviews focused on fatigue features, course, antecedents, cognitions, management behaviors, and functional impact.

Main Results:

  • Participants described fatigue aspects common to other conditions, such as illness attribution and low control.
  • Unique aspects of HCV-related fatigue included predominantly physical fatigue and high acceptance of fatigue.
  • Liver-protective diet was identified as a specific fatigue management behavior.

Conclusions:

  • This is the first study to examine fatigue in chronic HCV infection within a cognitive-behavioural framework.
  • Findings suggest that a cognitive-behavioural approach is applicable to understanding and treating HCV-related fatigue.
  • Applying cognitive-behavioural therapy could offer a new avenue to alleviate fatigue and improve patient outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
behaviourchronic hepatitis C infectioncognitioncognitive behavioural therapyfatigue

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