Psychological impact of chronic hepatitis C: Comparison with other stressful life events and chronic diseases

Abstract

Aim: To examine the psychological impact of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) diagnosis in a large cohort of CHC patients as compared with other stressful life events and chronic diseases carrying a risk of life-threatening complications. Methods: One hundred and eighty-five outpatients with compensated CHC were asked to self-grade, using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS), the degree of stress caused by the learning of CHC diagnosis and the perceived severity of their disease. Diagnosis-related stress was compared to four other stressful life events and perceived CHC severity was compared to four other common chronic diseases. Results: Learning o f CHC diagnosis was considered a major stressful event (mean ± SD scores: 72±25), significantly less than death of a loved-one (89±13, P<0.0001) and divorce (78±23, P<0.007), but more than job dismissal (68±30, P<0.04) and home removal (26±24, P<0.0001). CHC was considered a severe disease (74±19), after AIDS (94±08, P<0.001) and cancer (91±11, P<0.001), but before diabetes (66±23, P<0.001) and hypertension (62±20, P<0.001). Perceived CHC severity was not related to the actual severity of liver disease, assessed according to Metavir fibrosis score. In multivariate analysis, diagnosis-related stress was related to perceived disease severity (P<0.001), trait anxiety (P<0.001) and infection through blood transfusion (P<0,001). Co nclusion: Our results show the considerable psychological and emotional burden that a diagnosis of CHC represents, even in the absence of significant liver disease. They should be taken into account when announcing a diagnosis of CHC in order to reduce its negative effects. © 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.