title: Concurrent treatment of steroid-related mood and psychotic symptoms with risperidone.
abstract: Corticosteroid treatment is an important therapeutic modality for many pediatric medical conditions including acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, steroid-induced behavioral and mood abnormalities are common and potentially disabling adverse effects that have been widely reported in the pediatric literature. From this case series, we report the efficacy of risperidone in 3 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed steroid-related mood and psychotic symptoms during treatment with prednisone and dexamethasone. Risperidone is an effective short-term pharmacologic agent for controlling steroid-related psychiatric adverse effects when cessation or dose reduction of steroid therapy is not an option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA.
authors.forename: Sirirat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ularntinon
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tzuang
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054218:Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D018967:Risperidone; D011241:Prednisone