Psychopathological and neuropsychological effects of 8-days' corticosteroid treatment. A prospective study

doi:10.1016/0306-4530(95)00031-3

Psychoneuroendocrinology

Volume 21, Issue 1, January 1996, Pages 25-31

https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(95)00031-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

Corticosteroids often induce a variety of psychiatric symptoms, such as alterations of mood, neuropsychological deficits and even psychotic states. To date, only a few studies have specifically addressed behaviour as well as cognitive functioning in patients under steroid treatment. Fifty ophthalmologic patients participated in this prospective study. They received methylprednisolone or fluocortolone at doses of 119 ± 41 mg/day in the beginning and 75 ± 22 mg after 8 days of treatment. Psychopathology and neuropsychological functioning were examined before and after steroid therapy, mood was self-rated on days 0, 3, 5 and 8. No marked psychopathological abnormalities such as psychosis, dementia or delirious states were observed. However, a significant proportion of patients suffered from an organic mood disorder, 26–34% experienced a hypomanic syndrome, 10–12% a depressive syndrome. Most neuropsychological tests did not reveal significant effects of steroid treatment. Performance of Word Fluency and Trail Making A improved, while the Auditory-Verbal-Learning and the Digit-Symbol showed a worsening. Psychopathological and neuropsychological effects were not significantly correlated.

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ArticlePsychopathological and neuropsychological effects of 8-days' corticosteroid treatment. A prospective study

Abstract

Neuropsychologia

Lancet

Lancet

J Affect Disord

Am J Med

Psychosomatics

Psychoneuroendocrinology

Das Dokumentationssystem der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Methodik und Dokumentation in der Psychiatrie (AMDP)

Arzneim Forsch Drug Res

Association between corticosteroids and psychological changes in hospitalized asthmatic children

Ann Allergy

Suicide following cortisone treatment

JAMA

Acute adverse reactions to prednisone in relation to dosage

Clin Pharmacol Ther

Psychiatric observations in patients treated with cortisone and ACTH

Psychosom Med

Effects of ACTH and prednisone on mood: Incidence and time of onset

Int J Psychiat Med

Preliminary observations on mental disturbances occurring in patients under therapy with cortisone and ACTH

Psychosom Med

Further observations on mental disturbances associated with cortisone and ACTH therapy

N Engl J Med

Psychotic reactions induced by corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisone

Psychosom Med

Article
Psychopathological and neuropsychological effects of 8-days' corticosteroid treatment. A prospective study