High levels of anxiety and depression have been found among people infected with Hepatitis C through the administration of blood and blood products, according to a new study.
The highest levels of depression are among those who have been to the Compensation Tribunal, the study found.
Conducted by Prof Hannah McGee and a team at the Health Services Research Centre at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the study was commissioned by the Consultative Council on Hepatitis C.
In general, health services for the 1,600 people infected with Hepatitis C by being given blood and blood products were satisfactory.
Psychological distress, however, was relatively high among those studied. As many as 35 per cent had anxiety levels high enough to be of clinical concern. And 26 per cent had clinical depression.
The report suggests that uncertainty about the consequences of Hepatitis C might account for the anxiety. Attendance at the Compensation Tribunal - or its aftermath - seems to have accounted for most of the depression. Seven per cent of people were clinically depressed before they attended the tribunal. But this soared to 32 per cent of people after attending the tribunal.
One possible explanation for this, according to the report, is that the tribunal is "the focus of life" for patients before and during the hearings.
"When the tribunal is completed, patients would then find themselves with the rest of their lives and their health uncertainty regarding Hepatitis C to face," it says. "In this view, the post-tribunal period would be associated with greater distress for patients."
Ms Leonie Lunny, chairwoman of the consultative council, yesterday presented the report to the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin.
Email: pomorain@irish- times.ie