title: Cognitive dysfunction and depression during treatment with interferon-alpha and chemotherapy.
abstract: Trials with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) have provided contradictory findings regarding the presence of cognitive side effects. The development of depression in some patients also raises questions about whether cognitive dysfunction might be secondary to an organic, interferon-induced mood disorder. Thirty patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia were examined before and during treatment with IFN-alpha alone or IFN-alpha and chemotherapy. Increased depressive symptoms and declines in information processing and executive functions were observed, but depression alone could not account for cognitive dysfunction. There was some evidence suggesting that exposure to chemotherapy and higher cumulative IFN-alpha dose may contribute to cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Randall S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Scheibel
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Christina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Meyers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha