Hepatitis B and hepatitis c virus infection in institutionalized schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders patients in Eastern Turkey

This study was planned to evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic hospitalized psychiatric patients who have excitated behaviors and are under exposure to frequent parenteral procedures and badly hygiene conditions. The study consisted of 255 patients diagnosed as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and admitted in a large institutionalized Mental Hospital in Eastern Turkey. The presence of antigen of hepatitis B virus (HbsAg), surface antibody of hepatitis B virus (anti-HBs), total core antibody of hepatitis B virus (anti-HBc total), and antibody of hepatitis C virus (antiHCV) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. There was no statistically significant difference concerning gender, age, or duration of illness for HbsAg, HBV marker and anti-HCV seropositivity. When evaluating most observed risk factors, there was no relationship between HbsAg and HBV marker seropositivity and violent behavior, the history of trauma and repeated admissions to hospital. However, a significant influence of minor surgical and dental interventions was observed on HBV marker seropositivity. The determined values of 10.1% HBsAg seropositivity, 51 % HBV scropositivity, and 2.7% anti-HCV seropositivity were found to be within the values of Turkey's normal population. In conclusion, the psychiatric patients cannot be considered as a high-risk group with respect to hepatitis B and C. However, a more comprehensive investigation of this patient group seems to be required for more accurate conclusions.