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The Effect of Pegylated Interferon-_2b and Ribavirin on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Received January 25, 2006; revised August 15, 2006; accepted August 30, 2006. From the Depts. of Psychiatry and the Hepatitis C Resource Center at the VA Medical Center; Univ. of Minnesota Medical School; and the Dept. of Medicine, VA San Diego Healthcare System and the Univ. of California, San Diego. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Eric Dieperink, VA Medical Center (116A), Dept. of Psychiatry, One Veterans Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55417. e-mail: Eric.Dieperink{at}med.va.gov
© 2008 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic psychiatric diagnoses have a prevalence of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) approximately 11 times higher than the general American population. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is particularly common among HCV patients. OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the effect of treatment with pegylated-interferon-_2b (IFN) and ribavirin for patients with HCV on their posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. METHOD: Sixteen patients with HCV and combat-related PTSD were followed for 24 weeks and assessed with self-report measures of PTSD, hostility, and depression. RESULTS: Depression and Resentment scores significantly increased in five patients treated with IFN and ribavirin, but no significant differences were found in PTSD scores when compared with 11 control patients. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that patients with PTSD and HCV can be safely treated with anti-viral therapies when they are given appropriate psychiatric care.

Key Words: Interferon • PTSD

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