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arrowSpring 2008 Newsletter / Volume 9, Issue 3
      biopsychosocial update
     
     

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Spring 2008 - In This Issue

Biopsychosocial Update

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Psychiatric Assessment

   
     


In France, Préau et al. (2008) investigated "the specific impact of treatments for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on anger expression and control in adult patients coinfected with HIV and HCV receiving antiretroviral therapy" (p. 92). Préau and colleagues found that

[a]mong the 139 patients who were receiving antiretroviral[s] …at the time of [the] survey and who had complete self-reported data, 24 were being treated for … HCV …, using either pegylated interferon [(IFN)] and ribavirin or pegylated [IFN] alone. Control of anger was significantly lower among treated patients than among untreated ones ... . Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics did not differ significantly between these 2 groups. Control of angry feelings was significantly correlated with psychologic and social relationship dimensions of quality of life. (p. 92)

Expanding on these findings, Préau and colleagues point out that "[t]his result is consistent with literature on anger among HCV mono-infected patients, ... and provides further information about the association between IFN therapy and neuropsychiatric disorders, as many other studies have focused only on depression" (p. 93). Moreover, the investigators hypothesize "that the lack of anger control impairs patients' interactions with their close relations or occupational companions and also with their healthcare providers – interactions which have been shown to be of crucial importance in HIV-infected patients' [quality of life] ..." (p. 93). Préau and colleagues conclude that "[r]outine ... assessment of [each] patient's pattern of symptoms should be integrated into HCV and HIV services to develop programs to reduce anger expression and to increase anger control ability" (p. 95).

 

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