Interferon treatment is not associated with a worsening of psychiatric symptoms in patients with hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To study prospectively the psychiatric side effects of interferon-alpha in patients with hepatitis C.


METHODS
Sixty-three consecutive patients at a hepatitis clinic were recruited. All were assessed using a psychiatric interview (SCID) and monitored using a self-reporting psychiatric symptom questionnaire (SCL-90).


RESULTS
Patients on interferon did not suffer a drop in mood or an increase in anxiety or irritability. The subgroup with past depression also did not suffer an increase in depressive symptoms. No patients attempted suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of serious psychiatric symptoms when being treated with interferon-alpha may not be high. Psychiatric illness or the possibility of psychiatric complications should not be used as a reason to refuse this treatment to patients with hepatitis C.
Mulder
R T
RT
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand. roger.mulder@chmeds.ac.nz
Ang
M
M
Chapman
B
B
Ross
A
A
Stevens
I F
IF
Edgar
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha