Association of chronic hepatitis C with major depressive disorders: irrespective of interferon-alpha therapy.

Background: Mood and anxiety symptoms in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) may be related to the patient awareness of the diagnosis and prognosis, to side effects induced by interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment, as well as to substance abuse. However, the observation of metabolic alterations in patients with CHC has led to hypothesize a direct effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on brain function. This study was aimed at elucidating whether CHC is associated with specific anxiety or mood disorders independently of confounding factors.

Quetiapine as add-on treatment for bipolar I disorder: efficacy in preventing relapse of depressive episodes.

Objective: To assess the long-term response to add-on quetiapine therapy in patients with bipolar I disorder who were not adequately responding to standard medications.

Methods: Outpatients with bipolar I disorder (DSM-IV-TR) responding inadequately to standard treatment were observed before and after the addition of quetiapine. Symptom severity was evaluated using the Clinical Global Impressions scale for Bipolar Disorder (CGI-BP) each month.

Combination quetiapine therapy in the long-term treatment of patients with bipolar I disorder.

Objective: Determine the long-term effectiveness of quetiapine in combination with standard treatments in preventing relapses for patients with bipolar I disorders.

Method: Twenty-one outpatients with type I bipolar disorder who had inadequate responses to ongoing standard therapies were treated with add-on quetiapine in an open-label study. The quetiapine dose was increased until clinical response occurred.