Is there any correlation between depression and hep C pre tx?

[Wilful1]

I know that the sx of tx can be physically and psychologically horrible (I'm into week six of tx), but I was curious to know if there are studies that have looked at the effects of hep c on other parts of the body besides the liver, particularly depression and/or other DSM diagnoses.  Also, I am so glad to report that I have a great new dr and NP.  I love them.  I fired my last NP on Friday and had an appointment with a new dr on Monday.  I'll tell more about my horror story about firing my last NP another time.  
Thanks,
Wilful

[Severance]

Just my 2 cents worth..
The necessity for mineral & vitamin supplements may suggest that either the Hepatitis C or the body's immune response is stripping our systems of these things in far greater amounts than a in non HCV person. It's not a huge leap to consider that Serrotonin levels could also be affected. B vitamins are stress buffers. A poorly fed body is a stressed body, a  depressed body.
I agree with DoubleDose, "Doctors that say the depression experienced by those with HCV is due to their knowledge of having the disease"... aren't trying hard enough.
However else this virus impacts our minds, 'depression' in my opinion begins with depletion. A far more rational explanation to me, than "Because you know you have it."

[DoubleDose]

Most studies of HCV's extrahepatic manifestations show high correlations to depression, anxiety, psychological disturbances, and a host of related problems...brain fog, memory problems, anger issues, unexplained fears, etc.

It is apparent to me that HCV affects the brain, the unanswered question is whether that impact is from direct viral infection in the brain, or the effects of immune responses to the HCV systemic virus that end up interfering with CNS and brain function.  No solid answers to that question yet.  I tend to believe that the virus might well be there, in the brain, but that maybe both the viral impact, AND the cellular immune responses to the virus in the brain cause the problems.

The doctors that claim the depression experienced by those with HCV is due to their knowledge of having the disease are in my opinion, to put it bluntly "quacks".  Most people never even knew they had HCV, and suffered from years of depression, fatigue, behavioral problems, etc.  Read some of Naomi Judd's history.  She had a host of phobias, anxieties, and strange psychological symptoms during her HCV+ years.  Although I am not sure that she saw the direct connection to her HCV infection, I recognized immediately where those problems stemmed from.  I suffered the same symptoms over decades, prior to my tx'es and SVR.

DoubleDose

[DragonSlayer45]

yes there has been studies showing a link between the 2. There is also a strong link between treatment and depression. If you are in week 6 and suffering and having bad irritability it is from the meds. Especially if you had a history of depression. I did not ahve a history and the meds have been causing me problems in that area. They put me on AD's and it has helped.

Also IDU (intravenous drug user).

[Wilful1]

I have had a history of depression and no matter how much therapy or meds I had seemed to be able to control it.  After six weeks of tx there is a part of me that is feeling that these meds are doing something to me.  I am irritable, tired, etc. but somehow I feel better emotionally and even through the brain fog, my vocabulary is coming back to me.  Hippy, I don't know what IDUs are but know what IUDs are : ), can you quote that study for me.  Thanks all
Willful

[scruples]

I can share my feeling. I really felt depression, frustration and irritation before styarting Tx, i do believe there must be some relation between HCV and Depression, frustration coz now i am in 8th week of my tx and these symptoms are reduced upto 60%.

[CoWriter]

Page 21 of this article says....

"It seems that there are certain abnormalities on the MRIs of most HCV patients, even those with very mild liver damage, that are consistent with long-term depression. This could suggest that HCV does indeed affect the brain."

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/About_Hepatitis_pdf/1.1.1_Living_With_HepatitisC/SIDE_EFFECTS.pdf

[hippygem]

A study by Daniel Forton in 2001 Results showed a significant elevation of choline/
creatine in the white matter and basal ganglia area in the brains of HCV patients compared to patients with HBV and healthy controls.
There were no important differences in choline/creatine ratios between former IDUs and non IDUs in the HCV group.  The authors conclude that this study shows good evidence that HCV infects the brain directly and that the "brain fog" described
by HCV patients may be caused by this.  They also note that other possible causes such as encephalitis (found in cirrhotic patients) or IDU life style were controlled for in this study and found not to correlate with elevated choline/creatine levels.

[RJGCEDARS]

FYI

I started anti depressants 5 weeks prior to the first week of treatment.
I dont know what I would have been like if I didnt. I didnt want to take that chance along
with everything else. The anemia was the brutal sx.

RJG