Bonaccorso Stefania, Marino Valentina, Biondi Massimo, Grimaldi Franca, Ippoliti Flora, Maes Michael
Psychiatric Hospital, University 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy.
J Affect Disord. 2002 Dec;72(3):237-41. doi: 10.1016/s0165-0327(02)00264-1.
Several studies found a high incidence rate of neuro-psychiatric complications during long-term therapy with interferon alpha (IFNalpha), e.g. slowness, severe fatigue, hypersomnia, lethargy, depressed mood, mnemonic troubles, irritability, short temper, emotional lability, social withdrawal, and lack of concentration. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of depressed mood and major depression in patients who were treated with IFNalpha.
30 patients, affected by chronic active C-hepatitis, have been evaluated at baseline and 3 months after IFNalpha treatment. The evaluation consisted of psychometric assessments employing the DSM-IV criteria and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).
At end-point, 40.7% of the patients suffered from a full blown major depression, according to the DSM-IV criteria for major depression. IFNalpha treatment induced a significant increase in the MADRS score from baseline to 3 months later. The MADRS items which were significantly increased at end-point were: expressed and unexpressed sadness; irritability; insomnia; loss of appetite; and asthenia.
The results show that prolonged IFNalpha treatment may induce depressive symptoms and major depression in a considerable number of subjects.
多项研究发现，长期使用α干扰素（IFNα）治疗期间神经精神并发症的发生率很高，例如行动迟缓、严重疲劳、嗜睡、无精打采、情绪低落、记忆障碍、易怒、脾气暴躁、情绪不稳定、社交退缩和注意力不集中。本研究的目的是检查接受IFNα治疗的患者中情绪低落和重度抑郁症的发生率。
对30例慢性活动性丙型肝炎患者在基线时和IFNα治疗3个月后进行了评估。评估包括采用《精神疾病诊断与统计手册》第四版（DSM-IV）标准和蒙哥马利-阿斯伯格抑郁评定量表（MADRS）进行的心理测量评估。
根据DSM-IV中重度抑郁症的标准，在研究终点时，40.7%的患者患有典型的重度抑郁症。从基线到3个月后，IFNα治疗使MADRS评分显著增加。在终点时显著增加的MADRS项目包括：表达和未表达的悲伤；易怒；失眠；食欲不振；以及乏力。
结果表明，长期使用IFNα治疗可能会在相当多的受试者中诱发抑郁症状和重度抑郁症。
