title: Mood, cognition and EEG changes during interferon alpha (alpha-IFN) treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study is aim to investigate concurrent long-term psychiatric, cognitive and neurophysiological measures of alpha-IFN neurotoxicity in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with HCV hepatitis were enrolled while treated with alpha-IFN (3-6 MU t.i.w. for 6-12 months). Neurotoxicity was evaluated by psychiatric [Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y)], complete cognitive and neurophysiological assessments (EEG spectral analysis, P300). Patients were assessed at baseline (t0), 2 (t1) and 6 months (t2) since the beginning of therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression scores significantly increased (HAM-D: t0=4.4+/-2.6; t1=8.9+/-3.9, p<0.001; and t2=7.7+/-3.8, p<0.001). A concurrent increase was shown also for anxiety (HAM-A: t0=6.0+/-3.2; t1=9.6+/-4.5, p<0.005; and t2=9.1+/-4.5, p<0.005). Significant neurophysiological effects were also detected: increase of alpha power (p<0.05) in frontal derivations, reduction of the mean dominant frequency (p<0.005) and increase of theta power (p<0.05) in parietal derivations. In contrast, no significant cognitive changes occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study was performed on a relative small sample of patients mainly with observational intentions. Biological data (e.g. blood cytokines samples) are not available: they could have given useful information about biological mechanisms related to the alterations observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alpha-IFN treatment caused a time-dependent induction of symptoms of mild depression, concurrent anxiety and EEG changes. These psychiatric and neurophysiological changes can better explain the pharmacological profile of alpha-IFN and could help to address research on at risk population and, particularly, during pegylated-IFN therapy.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Clinica Medica 5, Policlinico Universitario, via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amodio
authors.forename: Enrico N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: De Toni
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavalletto
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mapelli
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernardinello
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Piccolo
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergamelli
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costanzo
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bergamaschi
authors.forename: Stefano Zanone
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Poma
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chemello
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha