Hi Sara: a recent blurb from a big hep journal on proactive treatment of
tx-induced depression. From Pubmed.gov

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Depression, anemia and health-related quality of life in chronic hepatitis
C.
J Hepatol. 2006 Mar;44(3):491-8. Epub 2005 Dec 27.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis C (HCV) infected patients have significant
health-related quality of life (HRQL) impairment which worsens during
anti-viral
therapy. Our aim was to examine the association of HRQL with
treatment-induced
depression and anemia. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-one HCV patients
who
received pegylated interferon alfa 2b and ribavirin were included. Data on
HRQL,
depressive symptoms, laboratory values and socio-demographic
characteristics
were collected. RESULTS: Mean age was 47.16.5, 69% were male, and 73%
were
White. HCV patients' HRQL declined during anti-viral therapy but returned
to or
exceeded baseline levels within 24 weeks of completion. Anemia and
depression
were both associated with HRQL impairment. The effects of depression on
HRQL
were strong; once depression scores were included other factors were no
longer
significant. Patients' depressive symptoms tended to increase during the
initial
half of treatment regimen. Those with higher body mass index (BMI),
cirrhosis,
and women reported more HRQL impairments. HRQL scales were generally not
associated with alcohol abuse, age, race, ALT and HCV RNA levels.
CONCLUSIONS:
Anti-viral therapy for HCV is associated with diminished HRQL. Although
anemia
and depression were associated with this impairment, depression was the
most
consistent predictor. Future studies are needed to see whether proactive
management of these side effects can improve patients' HRQL and the
efficacy of
antiviral therapy for hepatitis C.