Related Experiment Videos
Association between corticosteroids and psychologic change in hospitalized asthmatic children
B G Bender1, J A Lerner, J E Poland
1National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
Insights
High-dose prednisone treatment for severe asthma in children increased anxiety, depression, and memory issues. Emotional difficulties and family dysfunction predicted these negative psychological changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Pharmacology
- Asthma Management
Background:
- Chronic, severe asthma affects many children.
- Short-term high-dose corticosteroid treatment (prednisone bursts) is common.
- Potential psychological side effects of prednisone in children require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychological impact of short-term prednisone treatment in children with severe asthma.
- To identify potential risk factors for adverse psychological changes during prednisone therapy.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-two children with chronic, severe asthma were assessed.
- Psychological evaluations were conducted during high-dose and low-dose prednisone treatment days.
- Measures included anxiety, depression, verbal memory, hyperactivity, attention, impulsivity, and fine motor control.
Main Results:
- High-dose prednisone was associated with increased anxiety, depression, and diminished verbal memory compared to low-dose.
- No significant dose-related changes were observed in hyperactivity, attention, impulsivity, or fine motor control.
- Children with greater emotional difficulty or from dysfunctional families were more susceptible to negative psychological changes.
Conclusions:
- Short-term high-dose prednisone treatment can negatively impact the psychological well-being and cognitive function of children with severe asthma.
- Pre-existing emotional difficulties and family environment are significant factors influencing children's response to prednisone.
- Further research is needed to explore long-term effects and management strategies for prednisone-induced psychological changes.
Abstract:
Thirty-two children (mean age 14 years) with chronic, severe asthma were evaluated through the course of short-term prednisone "burst" treatment. At high steroid day (mean dose = 61.4 mg), the children reported more symptoms of anxiety and depression and demonstrated diminished verbal memory relative to low steroid day (mean dose = 6.97 mg). Order effects (evaluation at high steroid day first versus low steroid day first) were not significant for these steroid-sensitive variables. No dose-related changes emerged on measures of hyperactivity, attention, impulsivity, or fine motor control. Five subject variables were examined as potential risk factors. No association emerged between psychologic change scores and age, socioeconomic status, IQ, or asthma severity. Significant findings indicated that, as children increasingly demonstrated emotional difficulty or were from dysfunctional families, they were more likely to experience negative psychologic changes associated with high-dose steroids.