Cushing's syndrome: a systematic review of psychiatric and cognitive symptoms in case studies

Cushing's syndrome, characterized by chronic hypercortisolism, is associated with various health risks, including psychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairments. This systematic review of case studies aimed to map and categorize these symptoms.

We hypothesized that a broader range of psychiatric and cognitive manifestations would be observed beyond anxiety, depression, and memory impairment. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42024433186). We conducted searches in PsycINFO, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus, identifying 273 potentially relevant studies. After screening, 66 studies were included, comprising 74 cases (81% female; mean age 35.7 years, range 13-81).

revealed that 93% of cases presented psychiatric complaints, including depression (39.2%), psychosis/schizophrenic symptoms (35.1%), suicidal ideation/attempts (20.3%), anxiety (17.5%), panic attacks (2.7%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (1.4%). Cognitive complaints were reported in 32% of cases, primarily as general cognitive complaints (18.9%), memory impairment (9.5%), and attentional deficits (5.4%). An overlap of psychiatric and cognitive symptoms was observed in 26% of cases.

This review underscores the clinical relevance of symptoms such as mania, psychosis, and suicidal behavior in Cushing's syndrome, which are often underreported. Individualized clinical assessment informed by these case studies is crucial for comprehensive management that extends beyond the typical focus on depression and memory. Moreover, greater awareness of the full spectrum of neuropsychiatric manifestations in hypercortisolism is needed.