A longitudinal study evaluating the effects of interferon-alpha therapy on cognitive and psychiatric function in adults with chronic hepatitis C

A longitudinal study evaluating the effects of interferon-alpha therapy on cognitive and psychiatric function in adults with chronic hepatitis C

Abstract Objective To prospectively evaluate for changes in objective cognitive performance (attention, memory, and executive function) and psychiatric symptom severity (depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain) in patients before, during and after interferon-alpha based therapy (IFN) for chronic hepa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychosomatic research Vol. 78; no. 2; pp. 184 - 192
Main Authors: Huckans, Marilyn, Fuller, Bret, Wheaton, Viva, Jaehnert, Sarah, Ellis, Carilyn, Kolessar, Michael, Kriz, Daniel, Anderson, Jeanne Renee, Berggren, Kristin, Olavarria, Hannah, Sasaki, Anna W, Chang, Michael, Flora, Kenneth D, Loftis, Jennifer M
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Elsevier Inc 01-02-2015
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage
Antiviral Agents - adverse effects
Anxiety
Anxiety - etiology
Cognition
Cognition - drug effects
Comorbidity
Depression
Depression - etiology
Fatigue
Fatigue - etiology
Female
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy
Hepatitis C, Chronic - psychology
Humans
Interferon
Interferon-alpha - administration & dosage
Interferon-alpha - adverse effects
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Pain
Pain - etiology
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychiatry
Severity of Illness Index
Viral Load - drug effects
Pain
Depression
Fatigue
Anxiety
Cognition
Interferon
Hepatitis C
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Summary:Abstract Objective To prospectively evaluate for changes in objective cognitive performance (attention, memory, and executive function) and psychiatric symptom severity (depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain) in patients before, during and after interferon-alpha based therapy (IFN) for chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). Methods 33 HCV + adults were evaluated two months before IFN initiation (baseline), three months into IFN, and six months following IFN termination (IFN + Group). 31 HCV + adults who did not undergo IFN therapy were evaluated at baseline and six months later (IFN − Group). At each evaluation, participants completed the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) Attention, Memory and Executive Functions Modules, the Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Inventory (GADI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Results Compared with the IFN − Group, the IFN + Group experienced significantly (p < 0.050) increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, fatigue and pain during IFN therapy relative to baseline. In the IFN + Group, psychiatric symptoms generally returned to baseline levels following IFN termination. Sustained viral response was associated with significantly lower depression and fatigue. No significant changes in cognitive performance were observed. Conclusions During IFN, patients with HCV evidence significantly increased psychiatric symptoms, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, fatigue and pain. These psychiatric symptoms are generally short-term and remit following IFN termination, with increased benefit if viral clearance is achieved. However, IFN is not associated with significant declines in objective cognitive performance during or following IFN.
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ISSN:0022-3999
1879-1360
DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2014.07.020