[Depressive disorders and symptoms accompanying pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients].
The aim of the study was to describe describe the frequency of depressive symptoms and episodes accompanying peg-interferon alpha and ribavirin (peg-IFN-alpha/RBV) treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients (CHC).


METHODS
47 CHC patients were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups: experimental and control consisting of 26 and 21 participants, respectively. Experimental group patients were given peg-IFN-alpha/RBV2a (n = 18) or 2b (n = 9) and ribavirin treatment in doses recommended by manufacturers. Control group patients did not receive the above treatment. Both groups underwent psychiatric examination using semi-structured clinical interview (MINI) at the beginning (t0) and after 12 weeks of treatment or observation (t12). Depressive episodes were diagnosed according to ICD-10 criteria. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) was used to assess depressive symptoms intensity at the same time points.


RESULTS
Three and two participants in the control and experimental group were diagnosed with depression in t0. Six new patients developed depression in t12 twelve weeks after peg-IFN-alpha/RBV treatment. No new cases were seen in the control group. There was also observed a significant increase in depressive symptoms intensity during peg-IFN-alpha/RBV treatment. No significant changes in the frequency of depressive episodes and their intensity were seen in the control group over the period of observation.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest a connection between peg-IFN-alpha/RBV therapy and the development of depressive symptoms and episodes. The above changes may be the effect of IFN-alpha-induced neurotransmission abnormalities in limbic system and basal ganglia. The above findings necessitate a routine psychiatrist involvement in the management of CHC.
Pawełczyk
Tomasz
T
Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi, Klinika Zaburzeń Afektywnych i Psychotycznych. t.pawelczyk@csk.umed.lodz.pl
Białkowska
Jolanta
J
Jabłkowski
Maciej
M
Pawełczyk
Agnieszka
A
Strzelecki
Dominik
D
Rabe-Jabłońska
Jolanta
J
Dworniak
Daniela
D
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin