Depression and health related quality of life in non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B patients and hepatitis B carriers

OBJECTIVE: To measure health related quality of life and level of depression among patients with noncirrhotic chronic hepatitis B patients and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers.

METHODS: The study was conducted at Psychiatry, Gastroenterology, and Infectious Disease Outpatients Clinics of the Harran University, Sanliurfa, Southeastern Turkey, between April and June 2005.A case control study design was used to determine the effect of hepatitis B infection on depressive symptoms and quality of life. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depressive symptoms, the Short Form-36 for measuring health related quality of life (HRQOL), and semi-structured interviews for assessing psychosocial variables were used.

RESULTS: Thirty patients who met the criteria for being diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, 30 inactive HBsAg carriers, and 30 healthy subjects were included in the study. It was found that hepatitis B had a significantly negative impact on quality of life, both in terms of physical function, and mental health. Our results showed that HRQOL in asymptomatic carriers is comparable to those of non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitisB patients and worse than healthy controls.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that not only chronic hepatitis B patients, but also HBsAg carriers need emotional support. Therefore, on-going collaboration between hepatology and infection clinics and psychiatric liaison is needed.