Neuropsychiatric aspects of coinfection with HIV and hepatitis C virus

The increasing health care crisis of coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV has recently attracted the attention of research in the areas of psychiatric and neurocognitive complications related to coinfection. The preliminary data suggest that HIV/HCV coinfection has neurocognitive and psychiatric effects. This review summarizes the findings of what is known about the neurocognitive and psychiatric aspects of HIV/HCV coinfection and discusses the clinical implications and challenges in working with coinfected persons. An integrated, flexible, and interdisciplinary team approach model for treating patients who are coinfected is presented with specific recommendations for clinicians working with this population.