Perspectives on interferon-induced depression: toward an integration of psychiatry, neuroscience and immunology

Cytokines are small protein molecules which play a key role in viral clearance. Interferon-alpha (IFN) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is used to treat hepatitis C. However, the use of IFN can result in the development of neuropsychiatric side effects and sickness behavior, such as depression, irritability and fatigue. IFN-induced depression occurs in approximately 20-30% of patients with HCV, yet the mechanisms and risk factors associated with this complication of its use are not well understood.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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