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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Sep-Oct;51(5):401-8.
doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.51.5.401.

Prophylactic antidepressant treatment in patients with hepatitis C on antiviral therapy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Benjamin J Morasco  1 , Jennifer M Loftis, David W Indest, Samantha Ruimy, John W Davison, Bradford Felker, Peter Hauser
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Prophylactic antidepressant treatment in patients with hepatitis C on antiviral therapy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Benjamin J Morasco et al. Psychosomatics. 2010 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Background: Approximately one-third of patients undergoing interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy for treatment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) develop major depression, which decreases functioning and may lead to the reduction or discontinuation of treatment.

Objective: The authors examined the efficacy of citalopram in preventing IFN-α-induced depression in HCV patients.

Method: This was a randomized, controlled trial comparing citalopram with placebo in 39 HCV patients.

Results: The rate of IFN-α-induced depression in the sample was 15.4% (6/39). Randomization to citalopram did not decrease the statistical likelihood of developing IFN-α-induced depression (10.5% for citalopram vs. 20.0% for placebo).

Conclusion: Citalopram does not prevent depression onset; however, an empirically-supported treatment recommendation for IFN-α-induced depression includes monitoring depressive symptoms throughout antiviral therapy and initiating psychiatric treatment at the initial signs of depression.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Hauser has grant funding from Janssen Pharmaceutica and is currently on the speaker's bureau for AstraZeneca and Jazz Pharmaceutical. No other coauthor reports a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1. Flow of Participants Through Study Protocol
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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