Psychiatric disorders associated with corticosteroid therapy

Psychiatric disorders accompanying corticosteroid therapy are reported. They are much more frequently encountered than is generally believed. Moreover, they seem to correlate with the dosage applied. For more convenient clinical approach, we suggest classification of the disorders into four groups. The authors report two of their cases suffering from multiple sclerosis with associated steroid-induced psychosis. Besides the review of etiological mechanisms, the approach to treatment of psychiatric complications induced by steroid therapy is also suggested.