Is the interferon-α-triggered depressive episode a self-limited kind of depression? Four cases of persistent affective symptoms after antiviral treatment in HCV-infected individuals.

Objectives: To discuss relevant aspects in a series of cases in which interferon-α-triggered depressive symptoms persisted up to 4 years after therapy cessation in HCV-infected patients.

Methods: Two experienced psychiatrists (AGA and LCQ) identified these four cases in a systematic evaluation program of HCV patients in the Hepatology Unit of the Teaching Hospital at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. Lifetime psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI Plus), and a questionnaire was submitted in order to gather clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Can antidepressants prevent interferon-alpha-induced depression? A review of the literature.

Objective: To review the literature about the efficacy of antidepressant prophylaxis during interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy.

Method: We have performed a database search in PUBMED and ISI Web of Knowledge (1980-August 2009) for the available literature. The keywords "prevention" or "prophylaxis", and "depression", and "interferon", and "antidepressant" or "antidepressive agents" were used.

The impact of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder on bipolar disorder patients.

Background: Available data regarding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in bipolar disorder (BD) are scarce and usually from a limited sample size. The present report was carried out using the Brazilian Research Consortium for Bipolar Disorders and aimed to examine whether patients with BD and comorbid PTSD are at an increased risk for worse clinical outcomes.

Methods: A consecutive sample of bipolar I outpatients from two teaching hospitals in Brazil was recruited.