title: Emotional distress during interferon-alpha-2B and ribavirin treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The aim of the study was to describe the use of the Brief Symptom Inventory in characterizing the type and severity of emotional distress in 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were receiving interferon-alpha-2B and ribavirin. The 6-month actuarial incidence of neuropsychiatric toxicity, determined by physician interview, was 58%. Significant differences in mean depression, anxiety, and somatization Brief Symptom Inventory T scores were noted in the 15 patients with clinically apparent neuropsychiatric toxicity compared to the 11 patients without neuropsychiatric toxicity. Because of its brevity and simplicity, the Brief Symptom Inventory may prove to be a useful adjunct to clinician assessment in detecting and monitoring emotional distress during interferon-alpha treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and the Consortium for Health Outcomes Innovation and Cost-Effectiveness Studies, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0362, USA. rfontana@unich.edu
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Achamyeleh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gebremariam
authors.forename: Anna S F
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Moyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin