HBV and HCV Patients; Psychiatric Comorbidity and Coping Strategies

Abstract

ABSTRACT…Objectives:The main purpose of this research was to compare the level of psychological distress between HBV and HCV patients and to determine the effect of gender and age on psychological distress. Determine the relationship between coping strategies and psychological distress. Method: For the present study 100 HBV patients (50 male and 50 female) and 100 HCV patients (50 male and 50 female) were selected. The sample was selected from Liver Centre, district headquarter hospital Faisalabad. This was a cross sectional study. MHI-38 was used to measure the psychological distress and CRI was used to measure the copying styles among HBV and HCV patients. Result: HCV patients have higher levels of psychological distress t (198) = 6.54, p< .05 compared to HBV patients. Female hepatitis patients were suffering from high levels of psychological distress t (198) = 3.90, p < .05 as compared to male hepatitis patients, with male, age is positively correlated with psychological distress, r = .32, p < .01 but with female age is negatively correlated with psychological distress r = -.49, p < .01. Approach coping is negatively correlated with psychological distress in male and female hepatitis patients, respectively, r = -.45, p < .01 and, r = -.29, p <.01. Conclusion: HCV and female patients have higher levels of psychological distress comparatively of HBV and male patients. Age is correlated with psychological distress. The approach coping styles play an important role in controlling the psychiatric comorbidity in HBV and HCV patients.