Interferon-Alpha and Hepatitis C Research
in the Mind-Body Program

The following research study is currently active:

Central effects of Interferon-Alpha Therapy in Patients with
Chronic Hepatitis
An Imaging Study Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectoscopy to Reveal Central Nervous System Mechanisms of Cytokine-Induced Behavioral Change

Cytokines released by an activated immune system have been associated with the development of depression in both medically ill and medically healthy individuals. The proposed research will explore the mechanism of these effects by using advanced neuroimaging strategies to measure brain metabolism before and after interferon-alpha administration for chronic hepatitis C and relate changes in brain metabolism to interferon-alpha-induced behavioral changes.