Mental status changes in children receiving glucocorticoids. Review of the literature.
Glucocorticoid preparations are used commonly in the treatment of many diseases in children and adolescents. Although their physiologic side of effects have been described well, the psychiatric side effects of these medications have received little attention. Limited data suggest that disturbances of affect and behavior may occur in 25-50% of children receiving glucocorticoid. These steroid-induced mental changes may be underrecognized in children, and yet these changes can have considerable impact on social and psychological functioning and treatment outcome. An enhanced awareness and reporting of this phenomenon by clinicians, parents, and teachers would likely lead to better compliance with treatment, improved outcomes, and greater understanding of emotional concomitants of illness.
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, Connecticut.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects*
D005938:Glucocorticoids