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Antiviral Completion Rates and Sustained Viral Response in Hepatitis C Patients With and Without Preexisting Major Depressive Disorder

Received December 14, 2007; revised January 28, 2009; accepted February 2, 2009. From the Northwest Hepatitis C Resource Center, Portland VA Medical Center; Behavioral Health & Clinical Neurosciences Division, Portland VA Medical Center; the Dept. of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University; Dept. of Behavioral Neurosciences, Oregon Health and Science University; The J.E.N.S. Lab, Portland VA Medical Center; and the Dept. of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Peter Hauser, M.D., Portland VA Medical Center, 3710 SW U.S. Veteran Hospital Rd., P.O. Box 1035 (V3MHC), Portland, OR 97202. e-mail: peter.hauser2{at}med.va.gov
© 2009 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence suggesting that the majority of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have psychiatric and substance use disorders, patients with these comorbidities have historically been excluded from antiviral therapy for HCV. OBJECTIVE: The authors compared antiviral completion and sustained virologic response (SVR) rates between hepatitis C (HCV) patients with versus those without preexisting major depressive disorder (MDD). METHOD: The authors performed a chart review of HCV patients (30 with MDD and 25 control subjects) who attended an optional HCV education class and signed informed consent allowing collection of clinical data. RESULTS: The MDD group had completion and SVR rates similar to those of control subjects. Neuropsychiatric side effects and reasons for discontinuation of treatment were not different between groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with MDD can be safely and effectively treated with antiviral therapy.

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