Chronic Paranoid Psychosis and Dementia Following Interferon-α Treatment of Hepatitis C: A Case Report

Abstract

Low-dose interferon-α is a standard therapy for hepatitis C. Psychotic disorders have been described as a rare complication of such treatments that resolve with its termination. Here, we present a patient without significant risk factors for interferon-α-induced serious mental disorders who developed a psychotic disorder with a cognitive impairment achieving the level of dementia after seven months of interferon-α therapy. The disturbances have persisted for three years despite cessation of interferon and introduction of antipsychotic treatment. The possibility of severe neuropsychiatric adverse effects of interferon-α therapy in a susceptible individual may necessitate regular psychiatric consultations during the treatment.

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