Citation

Cheng YC, Chen CC, Ho AS, Chiu NY. Psychosomatics 2009; 50(5): 538-542.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1176/appi.psy.50.5.538

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although rare, psychosis can emerge during interferon (IFN)-alpha therapy and persist after therapy is completed.

OBJECTIVE: The authors report the case of a 30-year-old man with hepatitis C infection treated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin who developed acute psychosis with persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations, resulting in a suicide attempt.

METHOD: The patient was treated with amisulpride for 6 weeks and then with risperidone for 6 weeks.

RESULTS: There was no improvement in symptoms until the patient was treated with quetiapine; he then had a marked recovery from the psychotic symptoms. The duration of the psychosis was 28 weeks.

CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C can be successfully treated with IFN therapy, and the risk of IFN-induced psychosis is low, with psychotic symptoms resolving in most cases after completion of IFN therapy with or without antipsychotic treatment. In prolonged psychosis induced by IFN, quetiapine might also be of benefit. © 2009 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; male; case report; psychosis; scoring system; suicide attempt; article; fear; quetiapine; mental hospital; risperidone; drug withdrawal; dysphoria; hepatitis C; irritability; amisulpride; parkinsonism; ribavirin; psychosocial withdrawal; disease duration; peginterferon alpha2a; add on therapy; auditory hallucination; persecutory delusion; drug dose titration; drug substitution; trihexyphenidyl; Clinical Global Impression scale