Depression is very common in MS. Researchers noted that MS patients being treated with Interferon beta drugs showed an increase in "depressed mood" (while other symptoms of depression remained fairly stable) and a corresponding decrease in their use of coping skills to deal with stress.
The study could not tell whether Interferon actually caused the increase in "depressed mood," but the researchers noted the important implication that a widely used treatment drug might have this unfortunate side effect.
Since suicide is a big risk in MS, and since depression greatly increases the risk of suicide, the possible connection between Interferon and increased depressed mood is significant.
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