LAUSR

In the published literature, the incidence of corticosteroidinduced psychosis has ranged from 1.8% to 62%. This vast range reflects a number of clinical phenomena: variation in the clinical definition, the unpredictability of the reaction, poor clinical awareness of the issue, and the lack of standardization for corticosteroid dosing. Dose may be the most important risk factor for the development of steroidinduced psychosis, particularly when 80 mg of oral prednisone (dexamethasone dose equivalent of 12 mg po) or greater is prescribed. Still, even at lower doses, idiosyncratic psychiatric effects are known to occur. Other risk factors include female sex and older age. Previous diagnosis of mental illness and prior incidence of corticosteroid-induced psychiatric effects may also be risk factors.