Abstract
Glucocorticoids are often used for the treatment of acute sensorineural hearing loss. We presented a case of woman who developed steroid-induced psychosis after receiving glucocorticoid therapy for sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss. Treatment with psychiatric medications was effective in this patient.
Severe psychiatric reaction occurred in approximately 5% of steroid-treated patients. High doses of steroids may be a risk factor for complications such as psychosis. However, neither the dose nor duration of steroid treatment seems to affect the severity of mental disturbances. The onset of such psychiatric reactions is unpredictable, because most patients have no history of serious psychiatric illness.
Steroid-induced mental disturbances usually disappear on dose reduction or discontinuation of the drug. In some cases, special treatments such as administration of psychotropic drugs or antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapy, or psychotherapy may be indicated. In such cases, it is important to detect the minor initial symptoms and initiate early treatment.
