title: Interferon-induced depression in patients with hepatitis C: an epidemiologic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the incidence rate and severity of depressive symptoms in different time points (12, 24 and 48 weeks) in Brazilian patients with HCV treated with PEG IFN plus ribavirin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an observational prospective study using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty patients were included. The assessments with either scale showed the highest score of depressive symptoms in the 24(th) week of treatment; the mean BDI score before treatment was 6.5 ± 5.3 and the mean CES-D was 10.9 ± 7.8. After 24 weeks, the mean BDI was 16.1 ± 10.2 and mean CES-D was 18.6 ± 13.0; 46% were diagnosed with depression according to combined BDI and CES-D scores. The somatic/psychomotor subscales were highly correlated with overall scale scores . Subjects with history of substance and alcohol abuse had higher risk for IFN-induced depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with PEG IFN was associated with a high incidence rate of depressive symptoms in this sample of Brazilian patients, as measured by CES-D and BDI. Alcohol and substance abuse increase the risk of PEG IFN-induced depression.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Pereira Jorge de
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kayo
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Barboza Vianna
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mario Barreto Correa
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Brandão Mello
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b