Prednisone mood disorder with associated catatonia

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology
• Oncology

Background:

• Steroid-induced psychoses can manifest as mood disorders.
• Catatonia is often associated with psychotic mood disorders.
• The potential for steroid-induced psychotic mood disorder with catatonia is theoretically possible but rarely documented.

Observation:

• A 62-year-old woman with IgA multiple myeloma and mild hypercalcemia was treated with melphalan, prednisone, and cimetidine.
• The patient developed symptoms suggestive of catatonia.
• No prior documented cases of steroid-induced catatonia in adult patients were found in a literature review.

Findings:

• This report presents a possible case of steroid-induced catatonia.
• The patient's presentation suggests a link between steroid treatment and the development of catatonia.
• This case highlights a rare potential adverse effect of corticosteroid therapy in the context of cancer treatment.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of potential neuropsychiatric side effects of steroid therapy.
• It underscores the importance of considering medication-induced catatonia in patients receiving corticosteroids, especially those with underlying conditions.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and prevalence of steroid-induced catatonia.