Hepatitis C and Depression - the Effects of Tianeptine

Abstract

Objective:

Infection with the hepatitis C virus is a global problem with the prevalence of around 3%and a tendency of becoming chronic with 75% of the infected people.

The latest research indicates that chronic hepatitis C is connected with a higher risk of the beginning of depression.It also indicates that depression is more common with patients who have a chronic HCV infegtion as compared with other liver diseases.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of tianeptine in depression treatment of people with chronic hepatitis C.

Method:

A total of 3o patients with serologically affirmed diagnosis of hepatitis C,aged 30 to 55 years,were included in this study.The level of depression with these patients was measured using MADRS scale.The minimal score value on the MADRS scale during the initial rounds was 25.The patients received 37.5 mg of tianeptine for 8 weeks without the concomitant therapy.Rounds were organized at the beginning of the treatment, after 3 weeks,and after 8 weeks of treatment for all patients.

Results:

There is a significant improvement in terms of reduction in depression on the MADRS scale with patients treated with tianeptine after 3 and 8 weeks of treatment as compared with the initial rounds.70% of patients treated with tianeptine reduced the score on the MADRS scale, to 15 and lower after 8 weeks of treatment.

Conclusion:

Tianeptine shows considerably useful effects in reduction of depression symptoms with patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.