Factors associated with psychosis among patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome: a case-control study.
We observed that a number of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) developed affective psychosis during the acute phase of their illness. We reviewed all SARS-related psychiatric consultations in Hong Kong and investigated the risk factors for psychosis among patients with SARS in a matched case-control study. Patients with SARS-related psychosis received higher total doses of steroids and had higher rates of family history of psychiatric illness. The findings of the present study suggest that steroid toxicity, personal vulnerability, and, probably, psychosocial stressors jointly contributed to the development of psychosis in patients with SARS.
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. tak_lee@hms.harvard.edu
Dominic T S
DT
Lee
Y K
YK
Wing
Henry C M
HC
Leung
Joseph J Y
JJ
Sung
Y K
YK
Ng
G C
GC
Yiu
Ronald Y L
RY
Chen
Helen F K
HF
Chiu
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000150:complications*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones