Prophylactic Treatment With Escitalopram of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a–Induced Depression in Hepatitis C

Abstract

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00166296.

The Effectiveness of Nursing Intervention Program on Emotional Distress, Self-Efficacy, and Liver Enzymes Among Hepatitis C Virus Patients Undergoing Antiviral Treatment Therapy (Sovaldi Medication)

“…Instrument (3): Self efficacy scale: This scale was developed by [24] to measure self-efficacy of chronic ill patients. It was translated into Arabic and tested for its content validity and reliability by the researcher and it consists of 21 items in the form of likart scale, at point ranged from (1) to (10) (not at all confident take score (1) to totally confident take score (10). This scale divided into 3 items related to confidence in doing regular exercises, one item related to confidence on getting information about disease, 4 items related to confidence about obtaining help from community and friends, 3 items related to confidence on communication with physician, 5 items related to confidence on managing disease in general, 3 items related to confidence on doing chores, 2 items related to confidence on social and recreational activity, 1 item related to managing shortness of breathing The scoring system for total selfefficacy was less than 165 mean low self-efficacy, score from 165 to 215 mean mild self-efficacy, score from 216 to 281 mean moderate self-efficacy and score from 282 to 330 mean high self-efficacy.…”

“…Antidepressant medications have been the most readily available therapeutic option for HCV specialists to manage their patients' emotional distress. However, the evidence demonstrating the efficacy of antidepressants in ameliorating IFN-induced depression is equivocal [10] and [11]. Pharmacotherapy also has limitations (e.g., patient reluctance due to side effects, addiction history, and liver toxicity) and does not build self-efficacy or coping skills to empower patients to self-manage symptoms [6].…”

Clinical Factor 2011

“…Diez-Quevedo et al [14] in their randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of escitalopram in the prophylaxis of interferon-induced depression during the first 12 weeks of treatment of 133 patients with chronic hepatitis C did not find any statistical difference between escitalopram and placebo (the rates of major depression were 3.2% with placebo and 7.6% with escitalopram). The results of this study suggest that the practice of prophylaxis of interferon-induced depression with antidepressants is not warranted.…”

“…The articles [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22] are presented in groups according to similarity of their topic, not in any order of importance, preference or significance.…”

Depression and pegylated interferon-based hepatitis C treatment

“…In contrast to other reports, it did not result in less depression compared to placebo; however, a longer follow-up may have yielded different results, since other studies have demonstrated peak of depression after the 12th week of treatment. 68 Milnacipran, a serotonin and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor (SNRI), was studied in elderly depressed patients on IFN and was found to be efficacious with no incidence of anticholinergic or other side effects. 69 Of note, the use of tricyclic antidepressants probably should be avoided, because of increased sedation and worsened cognition, potentiation of the side effects of IFN, and possible cardiotoxicity.…”