Table 2. Symptom Dimensions as assessed by the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale at Baseline and Over Time in Patients with Hepatitis C Receiving IFN- α/Ribavirin and Undergoing Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Treatment with Paroxetine.

Symptom dimensions	IFN-α treatment								Comparison at week 24b
	Placeboa (n=33)				Paroxetinea (n=28)
	Baseline	Week 2	Week 12	Week 24	Baseline	Week 2	Week 12	Week 24
	(n=33)	(n=29)	(n=22)	(n=14)	(n=28)	(n=22)	(n=21)	(n=18)
Depressive	0.32	0.75	0.66	0.63	0.17	0.40	0.27	0.46	0.04c
	(0.09)	(0.16)	(0.15)	(1.04)	(0.05)	(0.12)	(0.09)	(0.15)
Anxiousd	0.91	1.21	0.82	1.29	0.68	0.82	0.71	1.39	NS
	(0.19)	(0.25)	(0.26)	(1.54)	(0.22)	(0.25)	(0.24)	(0.30)
Neurovegetative	0.72	1.55	1.55	1.64	0.54	1.77	1.27	1.30	NS
	(0.11)	(0.20)	(0.25)	(1.41)	(0.13)	(0.29)	(0.18)	(0.23)
Cognitived	0.55	0.83	0.95	1.36	0.32	0.55	0.81	1.44	NS
	(0.20)	(0.19)	(0.30)	(1.39)	(0.16)	(0.23)	(0.29)	(0.35)

Abbreviation: NS, non-significant.

All symptom dimensions were assessed by the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale.

^aValues are mean (SE) scores ranging from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.

^bFor all outcomes, no interactions between treatment and time are found to be significant.

^cP-value corresponds to the null hypothesis that the mean scores for paroxetine-treated group are the same as the mean scores for placebo-treated group at 24 weeks.

^dMean scores of anxious symptoms (p=0.01) and cognitive symptoms (p<0.0001) change significantly over time for both groups.