State Anxiety and Coping Strategies Used by Patients with Hepatitis C in Relation to Interferon Therapy (Report‪)‬

Byline: Rukhsana Kausar and Shazia Yusuf The present study was conducted to examine state anxiety and coping strategies used by hepatitis C patients in relation to Interferon therapy. Hundred patients with hepatitis C were recruited from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad (PIMS). For assessment, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Speilberger, 1983) and Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ; Kauser and Munir, 2004) were used. t-test analysis concluded that the level of state anxiety was significantly higher among patients who had received interferon therapy as compared to those who had not received it. The two groups also significantly differed in the use of coping strategies. Degree of anxiety in patients varied in relation to the types of coping strategies they used. Findings have important implications for provision of psychological services for hepatitis patients.