Psychological Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease

BackgroundThe negative impact of chronic liver disease on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) has long been established, and treatable physiological or psychological factors may potentially influence HRQoL.ObjectiveThe authors assessed the interrelationships of multiple psychological factors and HRQoL in patients with CLD.MethodBoth direct and indirect relationships among HRQoL, depression, anxiety, coping, and self-efficacy in 164 patients with CLD were assessed.ResultsDepression, largely determined by low self-efficacy and, possibly, by use of maladaptive coping strategies, influenced HRQoL in three groups of liver patients.ConclusionHRQoL in CLD patients may be positively affected by enhancing coping and self-efficacy skills, thus improving levels of depression.