Original scientific paper

DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C TREATED WITH PEGYLATED INTERFERON ALPHA THERAPY: A 24-WEEK PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Zorana Pavlović ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Dragan Delić ; School of Medicine, University Belgrade, Serbia
Nadja P. Marić ; School of Medicine, University Belgrade, Serbia
Olivera Vuković ; School of Medicine, University Belgrade, Serbia
Miroslava Jašović-Gašić ; School of Medicine, University Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Objective: To prospectively evaluate depressive symptoms and risk factors for depression in patients with chronic hepatitis C
(CHC) treated with pegylated interferon alpha therapy combined with oral ribavirin (PEG-IFN-α+RBV) and to analyze self-rating
scale for depression in comparison to observer-based scale in the given population.
Subjects and methods: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Zung Self Rating Depression Scale were used to screen for
depressive symptoms in 74 subjects with CHC before PEG- IFN-α (mean dose 152.6±25.6 mcg), and in the follow-up visits (4, 12
and 24 week).
Results: Incidence of depressive symptoms in patients (mean age 39.9±13.4 years; equal sex distribution p=0.225) treated by
PEG- IFN-α was the highest on 12th week of the treatment, when more than a 20% of our sample had moderate/severe symptoms of
depression, and about 30% had minor depressive symptoms. For the screening of depression during PEG- IFN-α self-assessment
scale was equally reliable as observer-based assesment of depressive symptoms. Common clinical parameters- subject related risk
factors (age (p=0.955 ), sex (p=0.008), lifetime psychiatric disorder (p=0.656)), illness related risk factors (duration of CHC
(p=0.267 ), i.v drug aplication as way of transmission (p=0.292)) and therapy-related risk factors (recommended duration of PEGIFN-
α (p=0.993) and dose of PEG-IFN-α (p=0.841)) were not signifcantly associated with depressive symptoms on PEG-IFN-α.
Conclusions: Liason-consultation services should collaborate with hepatologists in creating screening programmes,
supplemented by objective criteria and guidelines, for early recognition and treatment of interferon-induced depression.

Keywords

hepatitis C; interferon alpha; depressive symptoms; assessment

Hrčak ID:

76846

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/76846

Publication date:

31.12.2011.

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