Hepatitis C is transmitted by parenteral contact and has an estimated prevalence of 2 to 3%, with approximately 170 million people infected worldwide1. In Brazil, the prevalence ranges between 1.0 and 1.9%1. Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with the development of cirrhosis, hepatic failure and hepatocellular carcinoma1. Studies predict increased morbidity, mortality and economic overload resulting from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection worldwide1, thus indicating that it is an important public health problem. The impact of HCV is even greater when it is associated with psychiatric disorders, such as depression and alcohol and/or drug abuse2.
The prevalence of depressive symptoms and depressive disorder in individuals with HCV ranges from 21% to 58.6% and from 5.7% to 45%, respectively3. Several factors are associated with depressive symptoms in this population, including the emotional burden resulting from lifestyle modifications4,