Treatment of depression improves adherence to interferon beta-1b therapy for multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between patient-reported depression and adherence to therapy with interferon beta-1b (IFN beta-1b) and to test the hypothesis that treatment of depression is associated with improved adherence.


METHODS
Patients with multiple sclerosis were followed up 6 months after initiating therapy with IFN beta-1b.


METHODS
A university outpatient multiple sclerosis center, an academic group practice, and a health maintenance organization.


METHODS
Eighty-five patients with clinically evident multiple sclerosis taking IFN beta-1b.


METHODS
Follow-up questionnaire.


RESULTS
Thirty-five (41%) of the 85 patients reported new or increased depression within 6 months of initiating therapy with IFN beta-1b. Patients experiencing symptoms of depression were more likely to discontinue therapy. Among the patients reporting new or increased depression, 86% who received psychotherapy or antidepressant medication and 38% of the patients who received no therapy for depression continued the IFN beta-1b therapy (P = .003). Although psychotherapy was used as a treatment option more frequently in university and academic group practice-based multiple sclerosis clinics than in the health maintenance organization (P = .02), the treatment adherence patterns were similar across sites.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support previous findings that patients report increased depression after initiating therapy with IFN beta-1b. Although the source of this depression is unclear, these findings suggest that treating patient-reported depression increases adherence to treatment.
Mohr
D C
DC
University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Goodkin
D E
DE
Likosky
W
W
Gatto
N
N
Baumann
K A
KA
Rudick
R A
RA
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a