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Interferon- in Oncology Patients: Fewer Psychiatric Side Effects Than Anticipated

Received June 1, 2006; revised September 15, 2006; accepted September 19, 2006. From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and the Dept. of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC–Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. the Dept. of Trials & Statistics, Erasmus MC–Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and the Dept. of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC–Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Marjolein Bannink, Erasmus, MC–Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, P.O. Box 5201 3008 AE Rotterdam, the Netherlands. e-mail: m.bannink{at}erasmusmc.nl
© 2008 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

Interferon- (IFN-) treatment in both oncological and hepatological settings is associated with depression. If IFN- treatment induces depression in high numbers, it could serve as a model for studying the pathophysiology of depression, in general. The authors therefore studied 43 oncology patients treated with standard or pegylated IFN- with baseline psychiatric assessment and at regular time-points in the first 6 months of treatment. Apart from a severe depression because of brain metastases, authors observed only two clinically relevant depressive states. Contrary to findings in most of the literature, most depressive episodes in this study were self-limiting and short-lasting and were associated with either episodes of flu-like symptoms common at the start of the treatment or with concurrent psychosocial events. In the group as a whole, scores on both observer-based and self-report rating scales did not show clinically relevant changes. The results of this study indicate that IFN- treatment is not suitable as a study model for depression in general.

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