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Mood changes during prednisone bursts in outpatients with asthma
E Sherwood Brown1, Trisha Suppes, David A Khan
1Departments of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA. Sherwood.Brown@UTSouthwestern.edu
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
|January 19, 2002
Summary
Brief corticosteroid courses, like prednisone, can cause manic symptoms, not depression, in asthma patients. Some patients with depression even showed mood improvement during treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone) are widely used but can cause systemic side effects.
- Psychiatric side effects of corticosteroids are not well-documented, despite reported mood changes and psychoses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify psychiatric changes during short-term prednisone therapy in asthma patients.
- To investigate the relationship between mood changes and asthma symptom improvement.
Main Methods:
- 32 outpatients with asthma receiving prednisone bursts (>40 mg/day) were assessed.
- Psychiatric evaluations included Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Scale, and others.
- Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV assessed psychiatric history.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in mania measures (Young Mania Scale, Internal State Scale Activation) were observed within 3-7 days.
- No significant increase in depression measures occurred; some depressed patients improved.
- Mood changes were not linked to improved asthma control.
Conclusions:
- Short-term, moderate-dose corticosteroid use can induce manic symptoms.
- Prednisone did not worsen depression and may benefit some patients with pre-existing depression.
- Further research is needed on corticosteroid-induced mood changes.