title: Interferon α Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: Quality of Life and Depression.
abstract: Health-related quality of life was examined in 49 patients with hepatitis C virus with no psychiatric history who received interferon (IFN)-α treatment. Quality of life was assessed at baseline, at 3-time points during IFN-α therapy and at 1-6 month follow-up, using SF-36. Hepatitis C virus patients showed poorer physical functioning and better social and mental functioning than a normal population. Significant decreases from baseline SF-36 scores were observed at an early phase of treatment. Six patients developed major depression during IFN-α treatment. At baseline, they had reported more bodily pain than patients who did not develop depression during treatment. Planned contrasts revealed that worsening in some dimensions of quality of life at 2 months was greater in depressed than in non-depressed patients. Results suggest that depressive symptoms should be accurately monitored during IFN-α therapy even in patients with no psychiatric history, especially if they present with bodily pain.
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa ; Italy.
authors: Ciro
authors: C
authors: Conversano
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa ; Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Carmassi
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa ; Italy.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Carlini
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna , Italy.
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Casu
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna , Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Gremigni
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa ; Italy.
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Dell'Osso
keywords: HCV; depression; interferon; quality of life