title: Interferon-alpha in oncology patients: fewer psychiatric side effects than anticipated.
abstract: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment in both oncological and hepatological settings is associated with depression. If IFN-alpha treatment induces depression in high numbers, it could serve as a model for studying the pathophysiology of depression, in general. The authors therefore studied 43 oncology patients treated with standard or pegylated IFN-alpha with baseline psychiatric assessment and at regular time-points in the first 6 months of treatment. Apart from a severe depression because of brain metastases, authors observed only two clinically relevant depressive states. Contrary to findings in most of the literature, most depressive episodes in this study were self-limiting and short-lasting and were associated with either episodes of flu-like symptoms common at the start of the treatment or with concurrent psychosocial events. In the group as a whole, scores on both observer-based and self-report rating scales did not show clinically relevant changes. The results of this study indicate that IFN-alpha treatment is not suitable as a study model for depression in general.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. m.bannink@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bannink
authors.forename: Wim H J
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kruit
authors.forename: Arthur R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Van Gool
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sleijfer
authors.forename: Bronno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van der Holt
authors.forename: Alexander M M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eggermont
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoter
authors.forename: Michiel W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hengeveld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a