Psychiatric disorders and functioning in hepatitis B virus carriers

The authors compared asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers and healthy subjects in terms of their psychological state. Participants (43 asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers and 43 healthy comparison subjects) completed self-report questionnaires. Psychiatric disorders and psychosocial-functioning were evaluated with structured clinical interviews and the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. Hepatitis B virus carriers were more likely to have psychiatric disorders than comparison subjects (30.2% vs. 11.6%). Also, carriers had significantly higher depression and anxiety scores and lower Global Assessment of Functioning scores than did comparison subjects. Worries about contamination and illnesses related to hepatitis B infection were associated with the presence of psychiatric disorder The results suggest that asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers need emotional support.C1 Pamukkale Univ, Fac Med, Dept Psychiat, TR-20100 Denizli, Turkey.Pamukkale Univ, Fac Med, Dept Clin Microbiol & Infect Dis, TR-20100 Denizli, Turkey.Celal Bayar Univ, Fac Med, Dept Clin Microbiol & Infect Dis, Manisa, Turkey