Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
09:43
Analyses of Proteinuria, Renal Infiltration of Leukocytes, and Renal Deposition of Proteins in Lupus-prone MRL/lpr Mice
Published on: June 8, 2022
Acute psychosis in systemic lupus erythematosus
Simone Appenzeller1, Fernando Cendes, Lilian Tereza Lavras Costallat
1Rheumatology Unit, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. appenzel@unicamp.br
Rheumatology International
|July 20, 2007
Summary
Acute psychosis affects over 17% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), often linked to central nervous system (CNS) involvement or corticosteroid use. Differentiating these causes is key for effective management in SLE patients.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Psychiatric and neurological complications, including psychosis, can occur in SLE patients.
- Distinguishing psychosis primary to SLE from medication-induced psychosis is clinically important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and risk factors of acute psychosis in a large SLE cohort.
- To identify clinical and laboratory markers differentiating primary CNS psychosis from corticosteroid-induced psychosis in SLE.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 537 SLE patients was followed for 4-8.8 years.
- Standardized medical histories, neurological, rheumatologic, and psychiatric exams, and serologic tests were performed.
- Multivariate regression analysis identified risk factors for psychosis types.
Main Results:
- Acute psychosis occurred in 17.1% of SLE patients (89/520).
- Psychosis primary to CNS involvement (59 patients) was associated with disease activity, antiphospholipid antibodies, renal, and cutaneous involvement.
- Corticosteroid-induced psychosis (28 patients) resolved upon prednisone dose reduction.
Conclusions:
- Acute psychosis is a significant complication in SLE, occurring in 11.3% of the cohort.
- Disease activity and specific autoantibodies are risk factors for SLE-related psychosis.
- Corticosteroid therapy is a reversible cause of psychosis in SLE patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:24Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as a...