Overcoming Psychiatric Barriers to the Treatment of Hepatitis C

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient has confirmed diagnosis of HCV;
• Patient has expressed an interest in undergoing interferon treatment;
• Patient is deferred from interferon therapy for psychiatric, alcohol use, or other psychosocial issues;
• Patient must be completely medically cleared by the hepatologist with no outstanding medical conditions that would deem them ineligible from treatment;
• Patient must have only psychiatric issues and/or substance use issues; but otherwise no other contraindications for treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, psychosis;
• Patient resides in a psychiatric residential facility;
• Patient attempted suicide in the past five years;
• Patient is a current intravenous drug user;
• Patient is cognitively or decisionally-impaired due to brain disease or injury;
• Patient has advanced liver disease that precludes them from interferon treatment;
• Patient has other medical comorbidities that may exclude them from interferon treatment;
• Patient does not want to pursue interferon treatment at the present time;
• Patient has significant financial constraints, such as no insurance or homelessness, that would prevent them acquiring mental health or substance abuse services;
• No access to telephone service;
• Non-English speaking.