Linked Life Data

10962774

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/10962774

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
7
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-9-14
pubmed:abstractText
Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is the only effective treatment for chronic hepatitis B and C. Over 2/3 of methadone-substituted patients suffer from chronic hepatitis C but a history of psychiatric disorders or drug addiction is still seen as a contraindication for IFN-alpha because of a possible increased risk of severe psychiatric side effects such as depression, suicide attempts or psychotic episodes. We report on the case of a 33-year-old patient with chronic hepatitis C and a positive psychiatric history (drug abuse, borderline personality and four suicide attempts). After 4 months of therapy with IFN-alpha he developed a psychosis with persecution mania, complex thought disorder, disturbance of sexual identity, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression and increased irritability with suicidal thoughts. Symptoms did not disappear after discontinuation of interferon treatment. To our knowledge, there are no other reports of persistent psychosis with a possible association to interferon treatment. Development of psychosis and other psychiatric side-effects may be an indication of possible neuromodulatory effects of IFN-alpha with long-term treatment. On the other hand, the treatment for hepatitis C was successful. Ideas for safer treatment in methadone patients with psychiatric co-morbidity and chronic hepatitis C are needed.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0965-2140
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
95
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1101-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Psychosis in a methadone-substituted patient during interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis C.
pubmed:affiliation
Ludwig-Maximillians University of Munich, Department of Psychiatry, Germany. martin.schaefer@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Case Reports