Mental and physical symptoms associated with lower social support for patients with hepatitis C

by others (19%).Nearly one fifth of the patients did not share information about their disease with others to avoid being stigmatized.Lower levels of social support were significantly associated with living alone, being unemployed, being excluded from antiviral therapy, having psychiatric comorbidities, contracting HCV through intravenous drug use, having high levels of anxiety and depression as measured by the HAD and negative mood state as measured by the SIP.Patients reporting lower levels of social support also noted more physical symptoms as measured by the SIP. CONCLUSION:Patients with hepatitis C often face significant social problems, ranging from social isolation to familial stress.The most common concerns reflect a limited insight of patients and their relatives and friends about the disease, the risk factors for its spread, and about potential consequences.Our data suggest that educational interventions targeting support persons and the stressors identified in our findings may lessen or alleviate the social strains patients with hepatitis C experience.