Mental health and quality of life of patients with chronic viral hepatitis (review of foreign literature)

The results of research in recent years, describing the mental health and quality of life of patients with viral hepatitis B and C. have been summarized. Psychopathological manifestations in viral hepatitis may vary from mild symptoms of asthenia and somatic problems, forming a chronic fatigue syndrome, up to severe depressive disorders. The clinical symptoms joined the problem of social interaction; i. e. the quality of life of the patients is affected. Patients with viral hepatitis C are at risk of developing of depression because the use of antiviral drugs leads the development of affective pathology. Quality of life is one of the indicators of clinical adaptation and may serve as a criterion for the effectiveness of both antiviral and antidepressant therapy.