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. 2015 Nov 13:11:174-9.
doi: 10.2174/1745017901511010174. eCollection 2015.

An Aggravated Trajectory of Depression and Anxiety Co-morbid with Hepatitis C: A Within-groups Study of 61 Australian Outpatients

Benjamin J R Stewart  1 , Deborah Turnbull  1 , Antonina A Mikocka-Walus  2 , Hugh Harley  3 , Jane M Andrews  4
Affiliations

An Aggravated Trajectory of Depression and Anxiety Co-morbid with Hepatitis C: A Within-groups Study of 61 Australian Outpatients

Benjamin J R Stewart et al. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to explore the course of depression and anxiety in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Methods: Data were combined from two studies: (1) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores in 395 consecutive Australian outpatients from 2006 to 2010 formed the baseline measurement; and (2) Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) scores in a survey of a sub-sample of these patients in 2011 formed the follow-up measurement. After converting DASS to HADS scores, changes in symptom scores and rates of case-ness (≥8), and predictors of follow-up symptoms were assessed.

Results: Follow-up data were available for 61 patients (70.5% male) whose age ranged from 24.5 to 74.6 years (M=45.6). The time to follow-up ranged from 20.7 to 61.9 months (M=43.8). Baseline rates of depression (32.8%) and anxiety (44.3%) increased to 62.3% and 67.2%, respectively. These findings were confirmed, independent of the conversion, by comparing baseline HADS and follow-up DASS scores with British community norms. Baseline anxiety and younger age predicted depression, while baseline anxiety, high school non-completion, and single relationship status predicted anxiety.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a worsening trajectory of depression and anxiety. Further controlled and prospective research in a larger sample is required to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Anxiety; depression; hepatitis C; prognosis; trajectory..

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