Prednisone Mood Disorder With Associated Catatonia

Since steroid-induced psychoses often appear as mood disorders and since catatonia may be associated with psychotic mood disorders, the possibility exists for a steroid-induced psychotic mood disorder to present with associated catatonia. In a computer review of the medical literature, however, I found no such cases in adult patients. This report is presented as a possible case of steroid-induced catatonia in a 62-year-old woman following treatment with melphalan, prednisone, and cimetidine for multiple myeloma of the IgA class with associated mild hypercalcemia. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1989;2:41-44). ince the introduction of corticosteroids in the Searly 1950s, a literary debate has ensued as to whether or not corticosteroids produced psychiatric symptoms; and, if so, what types of symptoms occurred and in which patient populations did they occur. 1 Hall and colleagueS2 in the late 1970s reviewed th