Depression

Abstract

Background: Chronic Liver Disease is frequently related with psychiatricco morbidity disorders like depression and anxiety. Psychological disorders are a directmanifestation of Hepatitis C infection. Objectives: The objective was to assess the frequency ofdepression among patients of CLD presenting to the Shalamar Hospital, Lahore a tertiary careprivate institution. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Shalamar Hospital Lahore,Pakistan a tertiary care private institution. Period: Four months period (June till September2015). Methods: It was carried out on a convenience sample of 200 patients admitted inShalamar Hospital, Lahore. The HADS questionnaire was used to assess the frequency ofdepression among the patients suffering from chronic Liver Diseases. The selected participantswere meticulously briefed and signed informed consent was acquired. Selected patients werefurther comprehensively briefed about the study and confidentiality, anonymity and privacy ofthe participants was preserved. Ethical approval was sought from Institutional Ethical ReviewBoard of Shalamar Institute of Health Sciences. The data entry and statistical analyses weredone using SPSS version 20. Results: The response rate was 97%. Amongst all, 53% (n =102) were males and 47% (n = 91) were females. About 80% (n = 155) were married whereas 20% (n = 38) were unmarried. Among all patients of chronic liver disease 65% (n = 124)were positive for Hepatitis C Virus Antibody, while 25% (n = 49) were positive for Hepatitis BS Antigen. Of all the participants 32% (n = 61) received blood transfusions and almost 58% (n= 111) had a close family member who suffered from Hepatitis C. About 53% (n = 102) of thepatients were suffering from borderline or clinical depression (p < .000), whereas 56% (n = 108)of the participants suffered from borderline or clinical anxiety (p < .000). Conclusion: Patientssuffering chronically with Hepatitis C have higher than normal occurrence of depression andanxiety symptoms.