[Psychiatric complications of interferon therapy].
We studied the psychiatric side effect of interferon (IFN) therapy to the patients with chronic hepatitis type C (n = 48) using Cornell Medical Index (CMI) and Self-Depression Scale (CMI). No patients in this study showed any overt psychiatric diseases by IFN treatment. However, scores of SDS were more increased in the patients treated with IFN-alpha (32.7 +/- 7.4 to 38.9 +/- 8.4, n = 26, p < 0.001) than in those treated with IFN-beta (33.7 +/- 9.8 to 36.0 +/- 12.4, n = 18, not significant), suggesting subclinical psychiatric abnormalities caused by IFN therapy. We should take care of psychiatric side effects on treatment of IFN, especially IFN-alpha, for chronic hepatitis. Further studies are needed.
Matsushita
E
E
First Department of Internal Medicine, Kanazawa University.
Unoura
M
M
Kobayashi
K
K
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016899:Interferon-beta