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Dose-dependent development of depressive symptoms during adjuvant interferon-{alpha} treatment of patients with
Astrid Friebe1, Martin Horn, Folkhart Schmidt
1correspondence and McMaster University, Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph`s Healthcare, 50 Charlton Ave. E., L8N4A6 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. friebe@mcmaster.ca
Background:
Adjuvant IFN-α treatment for patients with malignant melanoma is often complicated by depression. The influence of dosage, however, is unknown.
Objective:
The authors sought to elucidate this dosage effect.
Method:
Using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and the German Bf-S Self-Rating (Affectivity) Scale, the authors prospectively compared the frequency and severity of IFN-α-induced depressive symptoms between a group of 29 patients receiving low-dose and 17 patients getting high-dose induction therapy for 4 weeks.
Results:
Patients receiving high-dose induction treatment had significantly higher depression scores after 4 weeks, and significantly more patients in the high-dose group developed depression.
Conclusion:
The authors concluded that frequency and severity of IFN-α-associated depression during melanoma treatment are dose-dependent.
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