Expect psychiatric side effects from corticosteroid use in the elderly.
Psychiatric side effects including mania, depression, psychosis, and delirium, are extremely common in patients treated with corticosteroids. The elderly and those with previous psychiatric diagnoses are not at increased risk for these side effects, but females and those with prior corticosteroid-induced psychiatric side effects are. Depression and mania are the most frequent behavioral side effects, followed by psychosis and delirium. In the geriatric population, there is a long list of medical etiologies of psychosis, delirium, mania, and depression. These must be distinguished from corticosteroid side effects. Treatment involves stopping the corticosteroids, if possible, and targeting the specific psychiatric symptoms that develop.
Cerullo
Michael A
MA
Division of Bipolar Disorders Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018692:Antimanic Agents