Interferon-induced depressive illness in hep C patients responds to SSRI antidepressant treatments |
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| Authors: | Ramesh K Gupta Rajeev Kumar Mark Bassett |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Consultation and Liaison Psychiatry, The Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australia;2. The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia;3. The Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australia |
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| Abstract: | This paper examines the role of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of hepatitis-C virus (HCV) patients who have developed interferon-α induced depression. A 2-year data analysis of HCV psychiatric liaison clinic has been undertaken. The diagnosis, treatment, and progress of those patients who were treated with interferon-α (INF-α) are reported. 53 of the 78 patients enrolled at the HCV Clinic and treated with INF-α were referred for psychiatric consultation. Six patients developed major depressive illness following INF therapy. They were all treated with SSRIs and they made full recovery. This is a significant observation and is concordant with other studies. Its biochemical ramifications are presented. It is concluded that INF-induced depression is fully reversible. A hypothesis is proposed that SSRIs modulate the neuro-protective neurotoxic ratio by possibly inhibiting the indole-2,3-dioxygenase induction of the kynurenine pathway. |
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| Keywords: | hepatitis-C virus (HCV) SSRIs interferon-α indole-2 3-dioxygenase major depression |
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