OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to identify early patients who are at-risk for major depression (MD) induced by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and evaluate the response of depressive symptoms to antidepressants. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients were treated with IFN-alpha. Psychiatric evaluations were performed prior to, and at 1 and 2 months after onset of therapy and upon completion of the study. Diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV criteria, and the severity of depressive symptoms was determined by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score (HDRSS). RESULTS: Of the 36 patients studied, 7 (19%) had MD before IFN-alpha treatment, 6 of which manifested a worsening of the depressive symptomatology during treatment. Of the remaining 29 patients, 9 (31%) developed MD during treatment. The median time required for the appearance or worsening of the depressive symptoms was 15 days (range 7-25). The median HDRSS before IFN-alpha in the 36 patients was 3 (range 1-20), whereas after 1 month of therapy, it was 10 (range 1-24; P=.000004). There was a strong positive correlation in the HDRSS before and 1 month after the initiation of treatment (r=.863). Of the 14 patients with a HDRSS of 1-2 before IFN-alpha treatment, only 1 (7%) developed MD, whereas of the 15 patients with a score >3, 8 (53%) developed MD. Antidepressants resulted in a decrease of the HDRSS to the IFN-alpha pretreatment values. CONCLUSION: One third of those treated with IFN-alpha developed MD. The HDRSS before treatment reveals the high- and low-risk patients for developing MD. Psychiatric evaluation should be performed prior to IFN-alpha treatment.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to identify early patients who are at-risk for major depression (MD) induced by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and evaluate the response of depressive symptoms to antidepressants. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients were treated with IFN-alpha. Psychiatric evaluations were performed prior to, and at 1 and 2 months after onset of therapy and upon completion of the study. Diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV criteria, and the severity of depressive symptoms was determined by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score (HDRSS). RESULTS: Of the 36 patients studied, 7 (19%) had MD before IFN-alpha treatment, 6 of which manifested a worsening of the depressive symptomatology during treatment. Of the remaining 29 patients, 9 (31%) developed MD during treatment. The median time required for the appearance or worsening of the depressive symptoms was 15 days (range 7-25). The median HDRSS before IFN-alpha in the 36 patients was 3 (range 1-20), whereas after 1 month of therapy, it was 10 (range 1-24; P=.000004). There was a strong positive correlation in the HDRSS before and 1 month after the initiation of treatment (r=.863). Of the 14 patients with a HDRSS of 1-2 before IFN-alpha treatment, only 1 (7%) developed MD, whereas of the 15 patients with a score >3, 8 (53%) developed MD. Antidepressants resulted in a decrease of the HDRSS to the IFN-alpha pretreatment values. CONCLUSION: One third of those treated with IFN-alpha developed MD. The HDRSS before treatment reveals the high- and low-risk patients for developing MD. Psychiatric evaluation should be performed prior to IFN-alpha treatment.
Authors: Geert Robaeys; Jozef De Bie; Marieke C Wichers; Liesbeth Bruckers; Frederik Nevens; Peter Michielsen; Marc Van Ranst; Frank Buntinx Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2007-11-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Faith Matcham; Daniel Leightley; Sara Siddi; Femke Lamers; Katie M White; Peter Annas; Giovanni de Girolamo; Sonia Difrancesco; Josep Maria Haro; Melany Horsfall; Alina Ivan; Grace Lavelle; Qingqin Li; Federica Lombardini; David C Mohr; Vaibhav A Narayan; Carolin Oetzmann; Brenda W J H Penninx; Stuart Bruce; Raluca Nica; Sara K Simblett; Til Wykes; Jens Christian Brasen; Inez Myin-Germeys; Aki Rintala; Pauline Conde; Richard J B Dobson; Amos A Folarin; Callum Stewart; Yatharth Ranjan; Zulqarnain Rashid; Nick Cummins; Nikolay V Manyakov; Srinivasan Vairavan; Matthew Hotopf Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2022-02-21 Impact factor: 3.630