Corticosteroid-Induced Psychiatric Disorders: Mechanisms, Outcomes, and Clinical Implications.

ABSTRACT: Corticosteroids are extensively used in medicine for their powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. However, their psychiatric side effects-such as mood disturbances, anxiety, and psychosis-are significant yet often underappreciated. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disorders, with a focus on their underlying mechanisms and clinical implications. We examine how corticosteroids influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to the dysregulation of stress responses and alterations in neurotransmitter levels, particularly dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate. These changes are linked to structural abnormalities in key brain areas such as the hippocampus and amygdala, which are implicated in mood and anxiety

SUBMITTER: Nasereddin L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11675195 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature