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BACKGROUND	Antiviral therapy with interferon-alpha ( IFN - ) for hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) infection is associated with increased risk for depression .
OBJECTIVE	To identify clinical predictors for IFN -- induced depression during antiviral therapy for HCV infection .
METHODS	Depression ( defined with the Montgomery-sberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) ) was evaluated before and during antiviral treatment in 91 people with chronic HCV infection without a history of psychiatric disorders .
METHODS	Cognitive function was evaluated using the Trail Making Test A/B ( TMT A/B ) .
METHODS	( Trial registration at ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT00136318 . )
RESULTS	Depression during antiviral therapy was significantly associated with a baseline MADRS score of 3 or higher ( P = 0.006 ) .
RESULTS	In total , 89 % ( n = 16 ) of patients who had a baseline score > 0 for the single item sadness developed depression .
RESULTS	Poor baseline performance in the TMT A ( P = 0.027 ) and TMT B ( P = 0.033 ) was predictive for severe depression .
CONCLUSIONS	Pre-treatment screening for subthreshold depressive and cognitive symptoms will help to identify those at risk for IFN -- associated depression among patients with chronic hepatitis C.

