Cited by 125Tryptophan and brain disordersHepatitis C virus researchSchizophrenia research and treatment

IFN-alpha-induced motor slowing is associated with increased depression and fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C

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Majer, Matthias, Welberg, Leonie A.M., Capuron, Lucile, Pagnoni, Giuseppe, Raison, Charles L., Miller, Andrew H.·2008·Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Abstract

Interferon (IFN)-alpha has been used to investigate pathways by which innate immune cytokines influence the brain and behaviour. Previous studies suggest that altered basal ganglia function may contribute to IFN-alpha-induced neuropsychological and behavioural changes. To further examine IFN-alpha effects on neuropsychological functions related to basal ganglia (as well as other brain regions), and explore the relationship between altered neuropsychological function and IFN-alpha-induced depression and fatigue, a selected subset of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery was administered to 32 hepatitis C patients at baseline (Visit 1) and following approximately 12 weeks (Visit 2) of either no treatment (n=12) or treatment with IFN-alpha plus ribavirin (n=20). Symptoms of depression and fatigue were assessed using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Compared to control subjects, patients treated with IFN-alpha/ribavirin exhibited significant decreases in motor speed as measured in the simple and five-choice movement segments of the CANTAB reaction time task and slower response times in the rapid visual information processing task, a task of sustained attention. Decreased motor speed on the five-choice movement segments of the reaction time task was in turn correlated with increased symptoms of depression and fatigue (R=0.47, p<0.05 and R=0.48, p<0.05, respectively). IFN-alpha/ribavirin treatment had no effects on executive function, decision time in the reaction time task, or target detection accuracy in the sustained attention task. Motor slowing and its correlation with psychiatric symptoms suggest that altered basal ganglia function may contribute to the pathogenesis of IFN-alpha-induced behavioural changes.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbi.2007.12.009

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  1. Robbins TW, James M, Owen AM, Sahakian BJ, Lawrence AD, McInnes L, Rabbitt PM. A study of performance on tests from the CANTAB battery sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction in a large sample of normal volunteers: implications for theories of executive functioning and cognitive aging. Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 1998;14:474–90. doi: 10.1017/s1355617798455073. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI

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Authors
Majer, M., Welberg, L. A. M., Capuron, L., Pagnoni, G., Raison, C. L., & Miller, A. H.
Affiliations
Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Miller, Andrew H.
Venue
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-08
Volume
22
Issue
6
Pages
870-880
ISSN
0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2058231748
Cited by
124
References
93
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 16
FWCI
3.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • IRIS UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000454)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL073921)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH067990, K05MH069124)
  • National Center for Research Resources (MO-1-RR-00039, M01RR000039)
  • NIH Clinical Center
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Hepatitis C virus research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Keywords
interferon-alpha, chronic hepatitis C, motor slowing, depression, fatigue, basal ganglia, neuropsychological outcomes, ribavirin, reaction time, sustained attention
MeSH terms
Adult, Antiviral Agents, Basal Ganglia, Depression, Fatigue, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Reaction Time, Regression Analysis, Ribavirin, Interferon-alpha, Hepatitis C, Chronic

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