Psychiatric and substance use disorders co-morbidities and hepatitis C: Diagnostic and treatment implications

Table 5 Antidepressant treatment of interferon-induced depression

Ref.	n	Design	Antidepressant	Outcomes
Gleason et al[54]	15	Open-label clinical trial	Citalopram	IFN-induced MDD in patients with HCV may be effectively and safely treated with citalopram
Hauser et al[24]	39	Prospective cohort study	Citalopram and buproprion	33% of patients receiving IFN therapy develop IFN-induced MDD. There were no differences in age, gender, past history of MDD, or substance use between those who became depressed and those who did not. Of those who developed IFN-induced depression most responded to antidepressant treatment allowing continuation of antiviral therapy. Also the group who developed IFN-induced depression had significantly higher baseline BDI scores than the group who did not develop IFN- induced depression
Loftis et al[27]	-	Various antidepressants	IFN-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ	Depression induced by IFN therapy is common and can limit treatment utility and necessitate discontinuation of antiviral treatment. However, the use of psychopharmacologic agents allows treatment continuation
Angelino et al[36]	-	Various antidepressants	IFN-α	Treatment with IFN may provoke episodes of depression however, several standard treatments for depression can mediate these symptoms, suggesting that depression may not be a barrier to effective treatment
Gleason et al[55]	18	Open-label clinical trial	Escitalopram	IFN-induced MDD in patients with HCV may be effectively and safely treated with escitalopram

HCV: Hepatitis C virus; IFN: Interferon; RBV: Ribavirin; MDD: Major depressive disorder; BDI-II: Beck depression inventory, second edition.