Abstract
Objective. In view of a scarcity of information available in the Polish literature on neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients with chronic hepatitis C, the authors decided to review current publications concerning this problem.
Background. In the literature on hepatitis C a considerable number of studies have been devoted to extrahepatic syndromes. The presence of psychological symptoms among patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C is an issue of vital importance to medical doctors, both in the cognitive and practical aspect. The prevalence rate of neuropsychiatric symptoms among HCV-infected patients was found to be higher than that in the general population. Moreover, the proportion of HCV infection cases among patients with mental disorders is higher than that in the general population.
Conclusions. Psychopathological symptoms in patients with chronic hepatitis C are of complex aetiology. Both reactive and biological factors (i.e. a direct effect of HCV on the CNS) seem to contribute to their onset.