Course of depression during the initiation of interferon beta-1a treatment for multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the hypothesis that increases in depression after initiation of treatment with interferon beta-1a for multiple sclerosis can be explained as representing a return to pretreatment levels of depression.


METHODS
Level of depression in patients with multiple sclerosis was assessed at 3 time points: 2 weeks before initiation of interferon beta-la treatment, at initiation of treatment, and at 2-month follow-up.


METHODS
A health maintenance organization.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients with confirmed relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
The depression-dejection scale of the Profile of Mood States.


RESULTS
Patients who scored high on the depression measure 2 weeks before the initiation of interferon beta-1a treatment showed significant reduction in depression at the initiation of treatment. However, depression returned nearly to initial levels within 2 months.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that increases in depression after initiation of interferon beta-1a treatment are related to level of depression 2 weeks before initiation of treatment. Physicians should assess history of depression for all patients in whom interferon beta-1a treatment is initiated. Patients with a recent history of depression are at risk for increased depression within 2 months after starting interferon beta-1a treatment, even though they may not be depressed at the time of treatment initiation.
Mohr
D C
DC
Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA. dmohr@itsa.ucsf.edu
Likosky
W
W
Dwyer
P
P
Van Der Wende
J
J
Boudewyn
A C
AC
Goodkin
D E
DE
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a