Beyond direct-acting antiviral therapy: Characterizing mental health conditions and depressive symptoms among patients recently treated for hepatitis C.

Nearly half of participants who achieved sustained virologic response following DAA treatment had significant depressive symptoms.

• Among 256 participants, 122 (48%) had significant depressive symptoms.
• Participants were enrolled after confirming SVR through receipt of an undetectable HCV viral load test within three months post-treatment.
• Data were drawn from the Preservation of Sustained Virologic Response (Per-SVR) study, a prospective cohort in British Columbia, Canada.
• Surveys were interviewer-administered.

More than half of participants reported ever having been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.

• 142 out of 256 participants (55%) reported ever having been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.
• This was observed in a cohort of individuals who had recently completed DAA-based HCV treatment and achieved SVR.
• The study used logistic regression to characterize psychiatric diagnoses.

Less than half of participants with depressive symptoms had ever been formally diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

• Only 44% of those with depressive symptoms had ever been diagnosed with depressive disorder.
• This finding indicates a substantial gap between the prevalence of depressive symptomatology and formal clinical diagnosis in this population.
• Depressive symptomatology was assessed via interviewer-administered surveys after SVR confirmation.

Participants with depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to report experiencing recent healthcare barriers.

• Adjusted odds ratio for experiencing recent healthcare barriers among those with depressive symptoms: 2.27 (95% CI: 1.02, 5.03).
• This association was identified using logistic regression analysis.
• The finding suggests that depressive symptoms may compound difficulties in accessing healthcare among HCV-affected populations.

The study population consisted of individuals from under-served populations who achieved SVR following DAA treatment in British Columbia, Canada.

• The Per-SVR study is described as a prospective cohort of individuals who achieved sustained virologic response following DAA treatment.
• SVR was confirmed through receipt of an undetectable HCV viral load test within three months post-treatment.
• Total sample size was 256 participants.
• The study noted that uptake of HCV treatment, including among under-served populations, has improved significantly in the DAA era.

The authors identified integration of mental health screening and treatment alongside HCV care as an opportunity to improve health outcomes.

• The authors concluded that 'the integration of mental health screening and treatment alongside HCV care may improve health outcomes among HCV-affected populations.'
• The study highlighted that HCV treatment encounters represent an opportunity to engage patients in mental health care.
• The findings raised concern that patients undergoing HCV treatment may not be receiving adequate support for concurrent psychiatric conditions.