INF is psycho/neuropathogenic - this strongly confirms an earlier work

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AIDS. 2005 Oct;19 Suppl 3:S174-8. Related Articles, Links

Interferon-induced depression and cognitive impairment in hepatitis

C virus patients: a 72 week prospective study.

Reichenberg A, Gorman JM, Dieterich DT.

From the aDepartments of Psychiatry bMedicine, Mount Sinai School of

Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

OBJECTIVES:: This study assessed the rates and course of depressive

symptomatology and neurocognitive deficits in hepatitis C virus

(HCV) patients undergoing interferon treatment, and explored

possible predictors of depression and neurocognitive deficits.

DESIGN:: In order to obtain objective assessments of depression, and

to evaluate cognitive impairment, a 72-week prospective study,

comprising 48 weeks of treatment and 24 weeks of post-treatment

follow-up was utilized. METHODS:: A total of 50 HCV patients were

assessed at baseline, and 14 times during pegylated interferon plus

ribavirin treatment. Patients were also assessed on four timepoints

after the termination of treatment. All patients have previously

been treated for hepatitis C infection with interferon and were

judged to be treatment resistant in these treatments. Depression was

assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression

(CES-D) questionnaire, and patients were interviewed regarding

problems with memory, attention and concentration. RESULTS:: Eighty-

two per cent of interferon-treated patients developed severe enough

depressive symptoms to meet the CES-D criteria for possible major

depressive disorder (MDD). Possible MDD onset was most frequent by

the first week of treatment, and almost all possible MDD cases were

observed by week 8. More severe depressive symptoms at baseline were

associated with higher depressive symptoms during interferon

treatment. Thirty per cent of patients complained about cognitive

problems. In half of these patients cognitive impairments were still

reported after the termination of treatment. There was no

association between depression during interferon treatment and

subjective cognitive complaints. CONCLUSIONS:: The findings suggest

that depression and cognitive impairments are frequent and

persistent side-effects of interferon treatment in treatment-

resistant patients.

PMID: 16251815 [PubMed - in process]