Persistent interferon-ß-1b-induced psychosis in a patient with multiple sclerosis

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010 Oct;64(5):584-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02122.x.

Abstract

Interferon-ß is used in patients with multiple sclerosis to reduce autoimmunity; although other psychiatric side-effects are common, in contrast to interferon-alpha, psychosis has been reported only once. A patient with multiple sclerosis developed auditory hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and increased aggressiveness after 16 months of treatment with interferon-ß-1b, 250 mg every other day. He responded after about one month to antipsychotic treatment, but tended to relapse upon dose reduction, and after 2 years still needs antipsychotics to control his symptoms. Because there was no change in his magnetic resonance imaging between pre- and post-treatment with interferon, we concluded that psychosis was more related to interferon treatment than to the underlying disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aggression / psychology
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain / pathology
  • Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders
  • Delusions / chemically induced
  • Delusions / psychology
  • Hallucinations / chemically induced
  • Hallucinations / psychology
  • Humans
  • Interferon beta-1b
  • Interferon-beta / adverse effects*
  • Interferon-beta / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / psychology*
  • Paranoid Disorders / chemically induced
  • Paranoid Disorders / psychology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychoses, Substance-Induced / psychology*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Interferon beta-1b
  • Interferon-beta