HBV AND HCV PATIENTS

PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITY AND COPING STRATEGIES

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.