Prevention of Depression With Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Chronic Carriers of Hepatitis C Treated With Interferon Alpha.

Bnai Zion Medical Center

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2

Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis C

Treatments: Drug: omega-3 fatty acid

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00408304

Schiff1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to check whether development of depression as a side effect of interferon alpha treatment in chronic carriers of hepatitis C can be prevented by omega-3 fatty acids.

Full description

Omega-3 fatty acids are known as an alternative treatment for different conditions, including mental conditions, such as depression. We assume that combining omega-3 with the treatment by interferon alpha may prevent the development of depression, which is quite a common side effect of the interferon alpha.

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Chronic carriers of hepatitis C who start a course of interferon alpha treatment, and are treated in the liver clinic of Bnai Zion hospital.

Exclusion criteria

• Disagreement to participation in trial.
• Diagnosed and active mental illness.
• Encephalopathic patients.
• Patients with limited ability to understand the questionnaires or the informed consent process.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind