We report 5 cases of psychiatric side effects in patients treated with alpha interferon for chronic viral C hepatitis. The first case includes depression with suicidal impulses without a suicide attempt; there was a positive rechallenge of interferon. In the second and third cases, depression occurred during interferon therapy, but has not disappeared after interferon withdrawal. In the 4th and 5th cases, depression occurred after interferon withdrawal. Overall, suicide was attempted in 4 cases after interferon withdrawal and was responsible for 2 deaths. The prevalence of suicide attempts during the 6 to 12 months of interferon therapy was 0% compared to 1.3% during the 6 months after interferon therapy (P < 0.05) in 306 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated by interferon in our local area network during the same period.
In conclusion: a) depression does not always disappear after interferon is discontinued; b) regular psychiatric follow-up is justified during treatment with interferon; c) psychiatric supervision should be continued, even more frequently after interferon withdrawal; d) the increased risk of psychiatric side-effect due to interferon as well as their severity suggest interferon should be administered with caution; e) the role of interferon can only be evaluated in controlled studies including the incidence and predictive value of emotional disorders.