Overcoming Psychiatric Barriers to the Treatment of Hepatitis C

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient has confirmed diagnosis of HCV; * Patient has expressed an interest in undergoing interferon treatment; * Patient is deferred from interferon therapy for psychiatric, alcohol use, or other psychosocial issues; * Patient must be completely medically cleared by the hepatologist with no outstanding medical conditions that would deem them ineligible from treatment; * Patient must have only psychiatric issues and/or substance use issues; but otherwise no other contraindications for treatment. Exclusion Criteria: * Patient has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, psychosis; * Patient resides in a psychiatric residential facility; * Patient attempted suicide in the past five years; * Patient is a current intravenous drug user; * Patient is cognitively or decisionally-impaired due to brain disease or injury; * Patient has advanced liver disease that precludes them from interferon treatment; * Patient has other medical comorbidities that may exclude them from interferon treatment; * Patient does not want to pursue interferon treatment at the present time; * Patient has significant financial constraints, such as no insurance or homelessness, that would prevent them acquiring mental health or substance abuse services; * No access to telephone service; * Non-English speaking.