Suicidal ideation during interferon-α2b and ribavirin treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C
Abstract
Psychiatric and substance use disorders affect most patients with chronic hepatitis C and are the most common reasons for exclusion from antiviral therapies. Suicidal ideation (SI) is often cited as a reason to exclude patients from interferon-based treatment or to terminate antiviral treatment that is in progress. This study examines SI in hepatitis C patients untreated and treated with interferon-alpha2b, a medication commonly associated with depression. Fifty-five subjects with chronic hepatitis C were followed for 24 weeks with three measures of depression, each containing one item assessing SI. A total of 15/55 (27%) subjects reported SI while not on interferon therapy. Of the 42 patients treated with interferon, 18 (43%) endorsed SI at some point during antiviral treatment. However, 17/18 (94%) finished at least a 6-month course of interferon therapy. No subjects attempted suicide. Although SI in some form is common in hepatitis C patients, in most cases it is mild in nature. With adequate support most patients can successfully complete a full course of antiviral treatment.
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Increased suicidal ideation was observed in patients receiving pro-inflammatory cytokines compared with other treatments for hepatitis C.
“increased suicidal ideation was observed in patients receiving pro-inflammatory cytokines compared with other treatments for hepatitis C, [18]”
From SUICIDAL IDEATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED INFLAMMATION IN PATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER: Research Article: Suicidal Ideation and Inflammation (2013) · cites this paper as [18]
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- Authors
- Dieperink, E., Ho, S. B., Tetrick, L., Thuras, P., Dua, K., & Willenbring, M. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System (US)
- Veterans Health Administration (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dieperink, Eric
- Venue
- General Hospital Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-05
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 237-240
- ISSN
- 0163-8343 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2017891167
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 4.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- General Hospital Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Hepatitis C virus research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Keywords
- suicidal ideation, chronic hepatitis C, interferon alfa-2b, ribavirin, antiviral therapy, depression, treatment completion, psychiatric comorbidity, substance use disorders
- MeSH terms
- Contraindications, Interferon alpha-2, Adult, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Minnesota, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Recombinant Proteins, Suicide, Veterans, Wisconsin, Interferon-alpha, Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry), Hepatitis C, Chronic, Substance-Related Disorders, Sertraline, Anti-Retroviral Agents
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