الفهرس 
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Abstract
Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a member of the Flaviviridae family of RNA viruses. At least 6 major HCV genotypes are identified. Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV worldwide (15%) and the highest prevalence of HCV4, which is responsible for almost 90% of infections. Although HCV-4 is the cause of approximately 20% of the 170 million cases of chronic hepatitis C in the world, it has simply not been the subject of widespread research; therefore, the features of this genotype and management strategies for patients infected with this genotype are not as well developed as for genotypes 1, 2, and 3.
Aim of the work:
1. Assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in hepatitis C virus infected patients.
2. Detect predictors of psychiatric problems in hepatitis C virus infected patients.
3. Assess the incidence and nature of psychiatric disorder in hepatitis C virus infected patients after receiving pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy.
4. Detect the effect of interferon on the course of already present psychiatric disorder.
5. Detect the effect of interferon therapy on Quality of life (QOL).
Conclusion:
1. Chronic HCV patients have significant higher prevalence of some psychiatric disorders than in general population previously reported rates. These disorders are dysthymia (4.5% Vs 1.035, P=0.001), MDD (6.0% Vs 2.70 %, P= 0.017) and non alcoholic substance abuse (2.3% Vs 0.13, p+ 0.008).
2. HCV patients with psychiatric comorbidity were higher in females, with lower education, higher social class, positive past history of psychiatric disorder and substance abuse. Severity of psychiatric symptoms significantly correlated with albumin level, RBCS count and modified Histology Activity Index (HAI).
3. Treatment with pegylated interferon was associated with increase incidence of psychiatric disorders. After 3 months of treatment, 35.1% of those interviewed were found to have psychiatric disorders which increased to be 44.9% after 6 months. After 9 months of treatment the percentage was 34.2% which DROPped at the end of treatment to be 13.6%. Mood disorders were the most commonly diagnosed disorders (especially Major Depressive disorder) followed by anxiety disorders.
4. All Quality of life subscales median scores were lower in those showing psychiatric disorders than those who didn’t at baseline assessment and throughout treatment. Significant predictors for better QOL are low Hamilton depression scores (HDS) followed by higher education.