Persistent bipolar illness after steroid administration

A 28-year-old woman received a single course of corticosteroids for treatment of ulcerative colitis. She subsequently became depressed; shortly thereafter, signs of mania developed. Despite discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy, the patient has had five bouts of mania, closely followed by severe depression, in the past 1 1/2 years. This seems to be the first case of persistent bipolar illness after exogenous steroid administration.