Essay - Hepatitis C Treatments: Their Link to Depression and Implications for...

Hepatitis C Treatments: Their Link to Depression and Implications for the Social Worker

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The most commonly used treatment ***** patients suffering from Hepatitis C, a de*****dly liver disease, is the drug interferon combined with ribavirin. Th***** treatment offers the most promise for a long-term positive prognosis. However, it h*****s a known high rate for negative psychological side effects such as depression and other anxiety disorders. Clinical psychology can offer some solutions to this problem, both in assessing those patients who have increased risk factors for ***** ***** as substance abuse or a history of depression, and in **********g treatments to help ease the occurrence and severity of *****. This study will assess the risk for depression among the general population ***** Hepatitis C ***** on interfer***** therapy.

Introduction

***** ***** virus is the most common ***** disease in ***** United States. Approximately 1.8% of the US population are infected, with approximately 74% of those persons chronically *****. Approximately 8-10 thousand people die each year from ***** ***** (Darko, et. al., 2000). Although clinical trials indicate that Interferon/Ribavirin ***** produce significantly b*****ter ***** results in ***** long term ***** hepatitis C patients, it is not recommended for those who ***** a h*****tory of depression. Many studies indicate that for people prone to ***** *****/***** therapy can make their condition signifi*****tly worse (Mitchell, 2001). ***** treatment can cause depression in as many as 25% of all ***** who use it (Boutiler and Hosein, 2000). Fortunately, it w***** found that this depression does respond to standard treatments for depression such as Prozac and other antidepressants (Boutiler and Hosein, 2000).

***** is a well-documented ***** effect ***** Interferon/Ribavirin treatment. Depression ***** Hepatitis C treatments can range from mild to severe. In some cases, the symptoms may be so severe ***** the person must decide between ***** side effects and ***** continuance of a life-s*****ving treatment. Some severe ***** have even been known to lead to suicide. The following research will assess past ***** concerning the risk of depression ***** ***** who have Hepatitis C and who are taking Interferon/Ribavirin *****s.

***** Review

***** most widely accepted treatment for ***** C involves varying doses ***** the ***** interferon or long acting Pegylated interferon ***** with ***** drug ribavirin. This ***** therapy is sold under the br***** name Rebetron (***** and *****, 2000). It offers many possibilities for patients ***** newly diagnosed ***** for those who have had a rel*****pse after interferon therapy (*****, 2001).

The exact mechan*****ms of how these drugs work against Hepatits C ***** not known. *****, this group of drugs is the most widely tested in clinical trials against the d*****ease and are now con*****red standard therapy. Ribavirin has an action against some vir*****s. It is a synthetic drug *****nd the mechanisms ***** how it works against Hepatitis C ***** not fully *****stood. Ribavirin alone ***** ***** ***** found to be effective for ***** long term. For this reason that it is used in combination with interferon or pegylated interferon.

Interferon