TY - JOUR
T1 - Association of interferon-α-induced depression and improved treatment response in patients with hepatitis C
AU - Loftis, Jennifer M.
AU - Socherman, Robert E.
AU - Howell, Charles D.
AU - Whitehead, Ashlee J.
AU - Hill, Jo Ann
AU - Dominitz, Jason A.
AU - Hauser, Peter
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are grateful to Dr. Samuel B. Ho for performing the HCV genotyping. We would also like to thank the patients, without whose cooperation the work could not have been done. This project was supported in part by Integrated Therapeutics/Schering Plough Research Institute, Forest Laboratories, and the VA Northwest Hepatitis C Resource Center. Peter Hauser would also like to thank Cathy, Katia, Anika and Max Hauser for their support during this project.
PY - 2004/7/22
Y1 - 2004/7/22
N2 - Thirty-nine patients with hepatitis C viral infection on interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy were monitored weekly using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Thirteen of thirty-nine patients (33%) developed IFN-α-induced major depressive disorder (MDD). During the course of IFN-α therapy, patients who became depressed were treated with citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. Results indicated that: (1) IFN-α response rates were significantly higher in those patients who developed IFN-α-induced MDD than in those who did not (end-of-treatment response (ETR) rates: 61.5% versus 26.9% and sustained viral response (SVR) rates: 38.5% versus 11.5%), (2) male patients with ETR to IFN-α therapy were, on average, ∼33 pounds lighter in body weight than male patients who did not respond, and (3) gender, race, past history of MDD, and past history of substance abuse were not significantly associated with ETR. In conclusion, our findings suggest that IFN-α-induced MDD may be a predictor of a positive response to IFN-α therapy, or an indication of optimal dosing.
AB - Thirty-nine patients with hepatitis C viral infection on interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy were monitored weekly using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Thirteen of thirty-nine patients (33%) developed IFN-α-induced major depressive disorder (MDD). During the course of IFN-α therapy, patients who became depressed were treated with citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. Results indicated that: (1) IFN-α response rates were significantly higher in those patients who developed IFN-α-induced MDD than in those who did not (end-of-treatment response (ETR) rates: 61.5% versus 26.9% and sustained viral response (SVR) rates: 38.5% versus 11.5%), (2) male patients with ETR to IFN-α therapy were, on average, ∼33 pounds lighter in body weight than male patients who did not respond, and (3) gender, race, past history of MDD, and past history of substance abuse were not significantly associated with ETR. In conclusion, our findings suggest that IFN-α-induced MDD may be a predictor of a positive response to IFN-α therapy, or an indication of optimal dosing.
KW - Antidepressants
KW - Antiviral therapy
KW - Depression
KW - Hepatitis C
KW - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
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U2 - 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.04.058
DO - 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.04.058
M3 - Article
C2 - 15245784
AN - SCOPUS:3042733296
SN - 0304-3940
VL - 365
SP - 87
EP - 91
JO - Neuroscience Letters
JF - Neuroscience Letters
IS - 2
ER -