Evaluating psychiatric outcomes associated with direct-acting antiviral treatment in veterans with hepatitis C infection.

Introduction: Approximately 70% of veterans with hepatitis C virus infection have at least one psychiatric illness. The advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy provided an alternative to interferon-alpha regimens and revolutionized treatment, however, the extent of psychiatric effects attributed to these agents are unclear. The primary objective of this pilot study was to prospectively analyze psychiatric outcomes, specifically depression, in veterans with hepatitis C virus infection who are initiated on DAA therapy.

Safe lithium use in a non-psychiatric versus a psychiatric inpatient veterans affairs hospital setting: a retrospective assessment.

Objective: This study examined practices for monitoring lithium in a non-psychiatric versus psychiatric inpatient setting at a Veterans Affairs facility.

Methodology: This retrospective chart review included veterans who had an active order of lithium during their non-psychiatric or psychiatric inpatient stay over the time period of January 2000 to September 2011. Chi-square tests were used for data analysis.