title: Role of baseline depressive symptoms in the development of depressive episode in patients receiving antiviral therapy for hepatitis C infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the symptom profile and the role of baseline depressive symptoms in the development of depressive episode in patients receiving pegylated IFN-alpha and ribavirin.
  
  
  METHODS
  82 consecutive patients with HCV infection in whom combination of pegylated interferon-α 2a/2b and ribavirin was prescribed were assessed at baseline and thereafter at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. At the baseline, patients were assessed on Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Thereafter patients were assessed on PHQ-9 and when ever found to have Major Depressive Disorder as per PHQ-9, they were assessed on MINI. Those found to have Major Depressive Episode (MDE) on MINI were rated on BDI-II for phenomenology and severity of depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Common symptoms of pegylated IFN-alpha and ribavirin induced MDE include sadness, irritability, work inhibition, sleep disturbance, fatigability and loss of appetite. Presence of certain depressive symptoms i.e., presence of little interest or pleasure in doing things, feeling tired or having little energy, poor appetite, social withdrawal and work inhibition at the baseline were associated with development of depression during the course of pegylated IFN-alpha plus ribavirin therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressive symptoms in patients with pegylated IFN-alpha and ribavirin induced MDE are influenced by the symptoms of depression prior to starting of pegylated IFN-alpha and ribavirin combination. A short screening questionnaire may be constructed which will include the symptoms which predict the development of depression to screen patients at high risk for the development of depression.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Sudhir
authors: S
authors: Mahajan
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Ajit
authors: A
authors: Avasthi
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: drsandeepg2002@yahoo.com.
authors: Sandeep
authors: S
authors: Grover
authors: Department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Yogesh K
authors: YK
authors: Chawla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Depression; Interferon; Symptom profile