Interferon α Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: Quality of Life and Depression

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Psychiatry
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection impacts patient well-being.
• Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is a treatment for HCV, but its effects on quality of life (QoL) are not fully understood, especially in patients without psychiatric history.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with HCV receiving IFN-α therapy.
• To identify factors associated with changes in HRQoL during treatment.

Main Methods:

• 49 patients with HCV and no psychiatric history were assessed at baseline, during IFN-α therapy, and during follow-up.
• Quality of life was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire.
• Depression development was monitored throughout the study.

Main Results:

• HCV patients exhibited poorer physical functioning but better social and mental functioning compared to the general population.
• SF-36 scores significantly decreased early in IFN-α treatment.
• Six patients developed major depression; they reported more baseline bodily pain than non-depressed patients.
• Worsening QoL dimensions at 2 months was more pronounced in depressed patients.

Conclusions:

• IFN-α therapy can lead to significant decreases in HRQoL during treatment for HCV.
• Bodily pain at baseline may predict depression development during IFN-α therapy.
• Close monitoring for depressive symptoms is recommended during IFN-α treatment, even in patients without a prior psychiatric history.