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The effects and after-effects of interferon alpha on human performance, mood and physiological functions

Health Psychology Research Unit, School of Psychology, University of Wales College of Cardiff, PO Box 901, Cardiff CF1 3YG

D.A.J. Tyrrell

MRC Common Cold Unit, Harvard Hospital, Coombe Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BW

K.B. Coyle

MRC Applied Psychology Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 2EF, UK

P.G. Higgins

MRC Common Cold Unit, Harvard Hospital, Coombe Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BW

The effects of three doses of interferon alpha (IFN, 1.5 Mu, 0.5 Mu and 0.1 Mu) on performance, mood and physiological function were examined in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. The subjects given an injection of 1.5 Mu showed symptoms which closely resembled those seen in influenza, although most of the symptoms had gone by the next day. All of the doses of IFN reduced subjective ratings of alertness, but again this effect was only apparent on the day of challenge. Subjects given the 1.5 Mu injection were slower on two of the performance tasks (a simple reaction time task and a pegboard task) both on the day of challenge and the following day. None of the other tasks in the battery was impaired by any of the doses of IFN, either on the day of challenge or the following day. These results suggest that IFN has selective effects on performance, and it is possible that IFN-induced changes in CNS function provide a mechanism through which viral infections influence behaviour.

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 5, No. 3, 243-250 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/026988119100500311


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