Rate of Depression among Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Interferon Alpha and Ribvirin

Aim: To find the prevalence of depression in patients receiving interferon and ribavirin therapy Study design: Prospective Place and duration of study: Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur from July 2011 to June 2012. Methods: Total 522 patients of Hepatitis C +ve screened by PCR for HCV RNA were included according to inclusion criteria. An approval was taken from Ethical Committee and informed consent was also taken from the patients. Results: In our study of 522 patients 260(60%) male and 175(40%) females were positive quantitatively for HCV RNA by PCR. Majority of the patients were in age group 34-41 years (Age Group C), 231(53.10%) the study population. Depression was found during screening in 87(20%) of patients at base line level. These patients were excluded from the study. Depression was found in 170(39%) after treatment with IFN-alpha & ribavirin. Out of these patients 94(55.3%) had mild, 61 patients (36%) had moderate, 9 patients 5.3% had severe depression and 6(3.5%) patients had very severe depression. Depression of varying degrees is associated with IFN-alpha & ribavirin and needs effective control with antidepressants. Conclusion: Uninterrupted interferon therapy could be ensured to combat depression.