Pain, substance use disorders and opioid analgesic prescription patterns in veterans with hepatitis C.

To examine the prevalence of pain, substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses, and opioid analgesic prescription patterns among veterans infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a retrospective review of the medical records of 8,224 HCV-positive (HCV+) veterans was performed. Twenty-nine percent and 46% of HCV+ patients were prescribed opioids in the prior one and three years, respectively. Sixty-seven percent of HCV+ patients had documented pain diagnoses and 56% had SUD diagnoses. Patients with co-occurring pain and SUD were less likely to be prescribed opioids than patients with pain only (prior year: 36% vs. 43%, P<0.001; three years: 56% vs. 60%, P<0.01). There were no differences in numbers of early opioid prescription fills or numbers of opioid prescribers when comparing patients with co-occurring pain and SUD to patients with pain only. Veterans with co-occurring pain and opioid use disorder had fewer early opioid fills than veterans with pain only (prior year: 2.6 vs. 5.3 days, P<0.01; three years: 6.1 vs. 13.4 days, P<0.001). These data demonstrate that pain and SUD diagnoses were common among HCV+ patients, and that opioids were frequently prescribed. Co-occurring SUD was not associated with indicators of prescription opioid misuse.

Addressing tri-morbidity (hepatitis C, psychiatric disorders, and substance use): the importance of routine mental health screening as a component of a comanagement model of care.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that most patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection commonly present to medical clinics with active psychiatric and substance use disorders. However, routine screening for these disorders is generally not done. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to assess prospectively the frequency of psychiatric and substance use disorders in patients presenting for initial assessment of a positive HCV antibody test result. METHODS: A sample of 293 patients represented the majority of patients scheduled for their initial hepatology clinic visit at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center between September 2002 and September 2003. The patient screening questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) were administered to all patients. RESULTS: At screening, 93% of the patients had a current or past history of at least 1 psychiatric disorder, and 73% had >or=2 disorders. The most common disorders included depression (81%), posttraumatic stress disorder (62%), any substance use disorder (58%), bipolar disorder (20%), and other psychotic disorders (17%). One hundred two patients (35%) had baseline BDI-II scores in the moderate-to-severe range of depression (>19), and 61 (21%) had AUDIT-C scores indicating current heavy alcohol use (>or=4). CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric and substance use disorders are highly prevalent among veterans with chronic hepatitis C. Thirty-five percent have significant symptoms of depression before the initiation of treatment with interferon (IFN). Routine screening for underlying psychiatric and substance use disorders and early treatment intervention before initiating antiviral therapy is essential to prevent worsening of depression and to optimize the outcome of treatment with IFN. Comanagement treatment models involving mental health care may expand the pool of patients eligible to receive treatment with IFN, as well as enhance treatment outcomes.

Association of interferon-alpha-induced depression and improved treatment response in patients with hepatitis C.

Thirty-nine patients with hepatitis C viral infection on interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy were monitored weekly using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Thirteen of thirty-nine patients (33%) developed IFN-alpha-induced major depressive disorder (MDD). During the course of IFN-alpha therapy, patients who became depressed were treated with citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. Results indicated that: (1) IFN-alpha response rates were significantly higher in those patients who developed IFN-alpha-induced MDD than in those who did not (end-of-treatment response (ETR) rates: 61.5% versus 26.9% and sustained viral response (SVR) rates: 38.5% versus 11.5%), (2) male patients with ETR to IFN-alpha therapy were, on average, approximately 33 pounds lighter in body weight than male patients who did not respond, and (3) gender, race, past history of MDD, and past history of substance abuse were not significantly associated with ETR. In conclusion, our findings suggest that IFN-alpha-induced MDD may be a predictor of a positive response to IFN-alpha therapy, or an indication of optimal dosing.