INTERFERONS AS MEDIATORS OF PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY: An Investigation in a Trial of Recombinant α-Interferon in Hepatitis-B Carriers,1987,McDonald et al

[Andy]

This was mentioned in the thread on the Pariante et al study on fatigue caused by hepatits-C and/or interferon alpha treatment, so posting for reference more than anything else.

Abstract
A significant increase in psychiatric morbidity, assessed by standard measures, was demonstrated in a group of patients receiving recombinant α-interferon for chronic hepatitis-B virus infection. In some cases the psychiatric symptoms were severe enough to need urgent psychiatric attention. The changes seemed most severe in patients with coexistent human immunodeficiency virus infection. The mental state changes are clinically reminiscent of those in the "post-viral" psychiatric syndromes.

Paywalled at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673687913195

 

[chrisb]

Until now the investigation of the role of endogenous interferons in psychiatry has focused on either organic changes or the psychoses.Many patients treated with interferon reach symptom levels that a standard psychiatric assessment would class as of "caseness severity"-implying that treatment is appropriate. Such changes have been caused by exogenous interferon; so what is the role of endogenously produced interferons in the production of abnormal mental states? The abnormal states reported in this study are very reminiscent of many persistent complaint syndromes that present to psychiatrists after viral infections or trauma and are labelled as chronic neuroses. One such example, and the subject of continuing controversy, is Royal Free disease. Until now the investigation of the role of endogenous interferons in psychiatry has focused on either organic changes or the psychoses.

One can easily see the dangers that could be attached to the new research, in the wrong hands.