Interferon alpha (IFNα) and psychiatric syndromes: A review

• Published in: Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 731 - 746
• Main Authors: Schaefer, Martin, Engelbrechta, Marc A, Gut, Oliver, Fiebich, Bernd L, Bauer, Joachim, Schmidt, Folkhard, Grunze, Heinz, Lieb, Klaus
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.05.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Depression; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Humans; Interferon alpha; Interferon-alpha - adverse effects; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders - chemically induced; Mental Disorders - metabolism; Mental Disorders - psychology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychiatric disorders; Side effects; Syndrome; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Toxicity: nervous system and muscle; IFNα; BBB; IL; Interferon alpha; ACTH; Depression; SLE; DSM IV; Side effects; Systemic lupus erythematosus; CRH; HPA; NMDA; Psychiatric disorders; Human; Mood disorder; Immunopathology; Connective tissue disease; Skin disease; Nervous system diseases; Alpha interferon; Pathogenesis; Toxicity; Cytokine; Autoimmune disease; Review; Cerebral disorder; Psychosis; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Animal; Systemic disease; Central nervous system disease; Lupus erythematosus
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-5846(01)00324-4

Interferon alpha (IFNα) is used for the treatment of several disorders, such as chronic hepatitis or malignant melanoma. During the therapy, IFNα may cause severe neuropsychiatric syndromes including depression with suicidal ideation, paranoid psychoses, or confusional states. The reasons and management of these side effects are widely unknown. Our aim is to review research evidence for the contribution of IFNα for the etiopathology of psychiatric syndromes. Therefore, research findings of neuropsychiatric syndromes induced by IFNα treatment, the putative mechanisms underlying those syndromes, and their treatment are reviewed. Furthermore, neuropsychiatric syndromes in diseases with high IFNα levels such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are discussed. Finally, the question is addressed whether IFNα may contribute to the etiopathology of endogenous psychiatric disorders. IFNα may cause psychiatric syndromes in a subset of treated patients. The underlying pathogenetic mechanisms include various effects on neuroendocrine, cytokine, and neurotransmitter systems. Research data on the role of IFNα in the pathogenesis of endogenous psychiatric disorders are conflicting. Future research should improve our understanding of the role of IFNα for the etiopathology of psychiatric syndromes and has an impact on treatment of IFNα-induced psychiatric syndromes.