[Psychotic disorders induced by interferon alfa].
The treatment with interferon-alpha is contraindicated in patients with major depression (National Institutes of Health), but a considerable number of neuropsychiatric side effects is associated with it: personality changes, impaired cognitive, mania, psychosis. In the literature limited reports of interferon-alpha-induced psychotic disorder exist. Authors report on a 46-year-old man diagnosed with alcohol induced psychotic disorder, who had been started to a treatment with Pegylated Interferon alfa-2b [Peg-Intron] and Ribavirin owing to a previous HCV-induced chronic hepatitis associated with a significant change in liver enzymes. During the first two months after the starting of therapy liver enzymes normalised, and modest side effects emerged, but the patient developed a psychotic reaction. Symptoms disappeared after discontinuation of interferon treatment.
D'Innella
Pierluigi
P
Cattedra di Psichiatria, Università del Piemonte Orientale A. Avogadro, Novara. pierluigidinnella@hotmail.com
Zaccala
Giuseppe
G
Terazzi
Maurizio
M
Olgiati
Paolo
P
Torre
Eugenio
E
D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000209:etiology*
D016898:Interferon-alpha