King's College London

Development of psychiatric symptoms during interferon-alpha (IFN-α) therapy may be influenced by psychological factors. We examined illness perceptions using The Revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (IPQ-R) in 55 patients with chronic Hepatitis C virus infection, due to receive IFN-α. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess the development of symptoms. Negative identity, consequences and emotional representations beliefs were significantly associated with both higher depression and anxiety scores. Negative illness perceptions play a predictive role in the development of IFN-α-induced psychiatric symptoms.