title: Psychiatric disorders associated with Cushing's syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cushing's syndrome is the term used to describe a set of symptoms associated with hypercortisolism, which in most cases is caused by hypophysial microadenoma over-secreting adrenocorticotropic hormone. This endocrine disorder is often associated with psychiatric comorbidities. The most important include mood disorders, psychotic disorders, cognitive dysfunctions and anxiety disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this article was to review the prevalence, symptoms and consequences of psychiatric disorders in the course of Cushing's syndrome. We therefore performed a literature search using the following keywords: Cushing's syndrome and psychosis, Cushing's syndrome and mental disorders, Cushing's syndrome and depression, Cushing's syndrome and anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most prevalent psychiatric comorbidity of Cushing's syndrome is depression. Psychiatric manifestations can precede the onset of full-blown Cushing's syndrome and therefore be misdiagnosed. Despite the fact that treatment of the underlying endocrine disease in most cases alleviates psychiatric symptoms, the loss of brain volume persists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to be alert to the symptoms of hypercortisolism in psychiatric patients to avoid misdiagnosis and enable them receiving adequate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 7 of Silesian Medical University, Ziołowa 45-47, Katowice, Poland, agn.bratek@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bratek
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koźmin-Burzyńska
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Górniak
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krysta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*