Hepatitis C - Impact of treatment with direct-acting antivirals on anxiety and depression

Impact of treatment with direct-acting antivirals on anxiety and depression in chronic hepatitis C 
Marta Gallach , Mercedes Vergara, Joao Pedro da Costa, Mireia Miquel, Meritxell Casas, Jordi Sanchez-Delgado, Blai Dalmau, Núria Rudi, Isabel Parra, Teresa Monllor, Meritxell Sanchez-Lloansí, Angelina Dosal, Oliver Valero, Xavier Calvet
Published: December 19, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208112

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Abstract
Background and aim
Treatment of hepatitis C with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) has few side effects. Although pivotal studies suggested that DAA were safe in patients with psychiatric diseases who could not be treated with previous antiviral therapies, their effects on anxiety and depression have not yet been analysed in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to analyse anxiety and depression in the setting of DAA treatment in a clinical practice series.

Methods
All patients starting DAA treatment between November 1, 2014 and October 31, 2015 were eligible. Patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale at different times during treatment. The results were plotted on line graphs and evaluated using a linear regression model with repeated measures.

Results
One hundred and forty-five patients were included (11% with major psychiatric disorders; 32% on psychiatric treatment). Sustained virologic response (SVR) was achieved in 97.3% of cases. Anxiety and depression measures did not differ between time points. No differences between patients on psychiatric treatment or with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis were found at any time point analysed.

Conclusion
DAA treatment had no impact on anxiety or depression during or after chronic hepatitis C infection treatment, even in high-risk patients with major psychiatric disorders.
Read More: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0208112