title: Social support decreases depressogenic effect of low-dose interferon alpha treatment in melanoma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most frequent serious psychological side effect of immune therapies is depression. In the present study, we tested whether social support, as a positive environmental effect, is able to moderate depression or anxiety symptoms in melanoma patients during adjuvant low-dose interferon treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hundred and twenty-seven melanoma patients with negative psychiatric history were included in our longitudinal study and followed up for one year. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured six times during treatment: at baseline, at 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th month of the therapy. In addition, social support was investigated with the Social Dimension Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depressive symptoms significantly increased during the 12-month follow-up period (p<0.001). However, social support significantly moderated the depressogenic effect of low-dose interferon treatment (p<0.001). Patients with better social support showed attenuated increase of depression. Anxiety showed no significant changes during the low-dose interferon treatment (p=0.230). Social support had no moderating effect on anxiety symptoms (p=0.745) during the follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide evidence that social support and interferon alpha treatment significantly interact in the development of depression. In addition, our study emphasises that enhancement of social support can reduce depressogenic side effects and increase compliance during adjuvant interferon treatment, and thus, psychological screening and psychooncological counselling should be incorporated in the treatment protocol.
authors: National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: kovacs.peter@oncol.hu.
authors: Péter
authors: P
authors: Kovács
authors: National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: gittapanczel@gmail.com.
authors: Gitta
authors: G
authors: Pánczél
authors: National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: balatoni.timea@hotmail.com.
authors: Tímea
authors: T
authors: Balatoni
authors: National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: liszkay@oncol.hu.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Liszkay
authors: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Clinical and Theoretical Mental Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: kendermagos@yahoo.com.
authors: Xenia
authors: X
authors: Gonda
authors: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: bag13638@iif.hu.
authors: Gyorgy
authors: G
authors: Bagdy
authors: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, UK; MTA-SE-NAP-B Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: gabriella.juhasz@manchester.ac.uk.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Juhasz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Interferon; Malignant melanoma; Proinflammatory cytokine pathway; Social support