A case of steroid induced psychosis

Abstract

Corticosteroids are one of the widely used drugs in medicine; however, the use of steroids is associated with undesirable side effects. We present here a case of 18-year-old girl with nephrotic syndrome who developed auditory hallucinations, muttering to self, social withdrawal, and fearfulness after she was given steroids for her treatment. Steroids were tapered and stopped, and she was started on olanzapine after which she improved completely. Although a relationship between hypothalmic–pitutary axis and psychosis has been clearly established, still there is a dearth of literature in the area of steroid-induced psychosis and its management.

Keywords

• hypothalamic pituitary axis
• psychosis
• steroids