Prolonged psychosis associated with interferon therapy in a patient with hepatitis C: case study and literature review.
BACKGROUND
Although rare, psychosis can emerge during interferon (IFN)-alpha therapy and persist after therapy is completed.


OBJECTIVE
The authors report the case of a 30-year-old man with hepatitis C infection treated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin who developed acute psychosis with persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations, resulting in a suicide attempt.


METHODS
The patient was treated with amisulpride for 6 weeks and then with risperidone for 6 weeks.


RESULTS
There was no improvement in symptoms until the patient was treated with quetiapine; he then had a marked recovery from the psychotic symptoms. The duration of the psychosis was 28 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatitis C can be successfully treated with IFN therapy, and the risk of IFN-induced psychosis is low, with psychotic symptoms resolving in most cases after completion of IFN therapy with or without antipsychotic treatment. In prolonged psychosis induced by IFN, quetiapine might also be of benefit.
Department of Psychiatry, Chang-Hua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Yi-Chun
YC
Cheng
Chun-Chih
CC
Chen
Ai-Sheng
AS
Ho
Nan-Ying
NY
Chiu
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003702:Delusions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate