Cushing's Syndrome and Psychosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2018 Sep 13;20(5):18br02279. doi: 10.4088/PCC.18br02279.

Abstract

Psychiatric complications of Cushing's syndrome include irritability, anxiety, depressed mood, and cognitive impairment. Psychosis is a rare manifestation of Cushing's syndrome; therefore, the literature on the subject is limited and consists mainly of clinical case reports. We report a case of Cushing's syndrome misdiagnosed as schizophrenia-like psychosis for more than 10 years. Transsphenoidal adenomectomy resulted in amelioration of psychiatric symptoms as well as improvement of cognitive ability. Clinicians should consider the presence of psychiatric symptoms predating the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome, especially when these symptoms are persistent and treatment-resistant, as seen in the present case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cushing Syndrome / complications*
  • Cushing Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychotic Disorders / etiology*