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World J Psychiatry. Oct 19, 2025; 15(10): 109466
Published online Oct 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i10.109466
Psychological distress and treatment adherence-challenges of patients with chronic hepatitis B: Risk factors and integrated nursing strategies
Li Dong
Li Dong, Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Dong L was responsible for conception, design, literature search, formal analysis, drafting and editing of the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Li Dong, Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. 15928553285@163.com
Received: June 5, 2025
Revised: July 3, 2025
Accepted: July 30, 2025
Published online: October 19, 2025
Processing time: 113 Days and 0.7 Hours
Abstract

This minireview focuses on psychological distress and treatment adherence-issues in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). It begins by discussing the epidemiology and disease burden of CHB, and addresses the relationship between psychological distress and treatment adherence. Next, it delves into the current status and risk factors for psychological distress among patients with CHB, and explores the challenges and risk factors related to treatment adherence. Subsequently, it explores the development and implementation of integrated nursing strategies, including psychological interventions and support, self-efficacy enhancement strategies, social support-system optimization, personalized medical care, and technological innovation. Finally, it highlights the limitations of current interventions and clarifies future research priorities. This minireview aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical basis and practical guidance for improving treatment outcomes and quality of life of patients with CHB. In summary, we reveal that psychological distress significantly impacts treatment adherence in patients with CHB and that it is essential to adopt integrated nursing strategies to address these challenges. These findings highlight the need to consider the psychological states of individuals and develop targeted interventions to improve treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; Psychological distress; Treatment adherence; Integrated nursing strategies; Cognitive-behavioral therapy; Health psychology; Stigma and mental health; Biopsychosocial model

Core Tip: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) often experience psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and stigma, which significantly impairs their treatment adherence. This minireview synthesizes recent evidence on the epidemiology and psychosocial challenges faced by CHB patients and proposes a comprehensive, biopsychosocial intervention framework. The authors highlight integrated nursing strategies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, social support systems, digital health tools, and culturally adapted care models, aimed at improving mental health outcomes and long-term adherence among CHB patients. These insights offer clinical guidance for multidisciplinary teams in hepatology and psychiatry.