The psychiatric side effects of corticosteroids.
OBJECTIVE
Readers will learn the importance of psychiatric symptomatology with corticosteroid drug therapy, especially when combined with other medications.


METHODS
A brief history of corticosteroid use over the last five decades was complied utilizing MEDLINE and PSYCHOINFO as sources of information which include peer-reviewed research articles, case studies, and relevant reviews in English.


CONCLUSIONS
Corticosteroids are routinely prescribed for a variety of allergic and immunologic illnesses. Psychiatric side effects from corticosteroids include mania, depression and mood disturbances. Psychiatric symptoms usually occur within the first two weeks of corticosteroid therapy and seem to be dose related. Treatment with lithium or antipsychotics may be helpful. Physicians should carefully monitor patients for psychiatric and cognitive side effects of corticosteroid use.
Brown
E S
ES
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9101, USA.
Khan
D A
DA
Nejtek
V A
VA
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced; D003702:Delusions / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000209:etiology*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones