Dose-Dependent Development of Depressive Symptoms During Adjuvant Interferon-α Treatment of Patients With Malignant Melanoma

Background Adjuvant IFN- α treatment for patients with malignant melanoma is often complicated by depression. The influence of dosage, however, is unknown. Objective The authors sought to elucidate this dosage effect. Method Using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and the German Bf-S Self-Rating (Affectivity) Scale, the authors prospectively compared the frequency and severity of IFN- α –induced depressive symptoms between a group of 29 patients receiving low-dose and 17 patients getting high-dose induction therapy for 4 weeks. Results Patients receiving high-dose induction treatment had significantly higher depression scores after 4 weeks, and significantly more patients in the high-dose group developed depression. Conclusion The authors concluded that frequency and severity of IFN- α –associated depression during melanoma treatment are dose-dependent.