Acute delirium, delusion, and depression during IFN-beta-1a therapy for multiple sclerosis: a case report.
Adverse effects of interferon (IFN) treatment are common, and efforts to minimize these reactions are of considerable importance. IFN-beta-1a is an established therapy for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Its psychiatric side effects are debated and not yet fully established. The authors report here the case of a patient on IFN-beta-1a therapy for MS who developed acute delirium, delusion, and depression that ceased with treatment discontinuation. Although he had a history of recurrent major depressive disorder, his prior psychiatric illness had followed a course that was clinically independent of other signs of MS. This observation points out psychiatric vulnerability of patients taking IFN-beta-1a therapy for MS and suggests that IFN-beta-1a may induce or exacerbate preexisting psychotic symptoms.
Goëb
J L
JL
Service de psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Angers, France. jlgoeb@wanadoo.fr
Cailleau
A
A
Lainé
P
P
Etcharry-Bouyx
F
F
Maugin
D
D
Duverger
Ph
P
Gohier
B
B
Rannou-Dubas
K
K
Dubas
F
F
Garré
J B
JB
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003702:Delusions / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a