More on the Depressive Effects of Interferon Alfa

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Abstract
In a recent letter, Capuron and Ravaud described their use of a depression rating scale as a method of predicting depressive symptoms associated with high doses of interferon alfa (April 29 issue).1 We strongly endorse the authors' recommendation of a routine psychiatric assessment before treatment with interferon alfa. However, we consider their conclusions — that “the effects of interferon alfa on mood depend on the initial affective state of the patients” and that a base-line measurement of mood symptoms constitutes “an easy way to identify patients who are at risk for mood disorders” — to be both premature and potentially deleterious.