Management of Psychiatric Disease in Hepatitis C Treatment Candidates.

Depression and other influences on mental health can impact antiviral response rates during chronic hepatitis C treatment, the quality of life for these patients, and the risk for adverse outcomes such as suicide. Enhanced treatment outcomes for patients who are receiving interferon-α requires 1) addressing preexisting mental health problems, 2) alleviating psychiatric conditions that emerge during treatment, and 3) prediction and prevention of these conditions. Accumulating evidence indicates that these three goals are feasible. Collaborative involvement of psychiatric management may often be critical in this regard.