Mania in association with hydrocortisone replacement for Addison's disease.

Journal article

A 32 year old woman with untreated primary adenocortical insufficiency presented with prominent depressive symptoms. Upon treatment with physiological doses of glucocorticoids she developed a self-limiting acute manic illness. We suggest that up-regulation of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors as a consequence of prolonged hypocortisolaemia resulted in increased cerebral sensitivity to exogenous corticosteroids, which are known to precipitate manic symptoms in some normal individuals when given in supraphysiological doses.

Authors: Ur, E; Turner, T; Goodwin, T; Grossman, A; Besser, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Postgraduate medical journal
• Volume: 68
• Issue: 795
• Pages: 41-43
• Publication date: 1992-01-01
• DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.68.795.41
• EISSN: 1469-0756
• ISSN: 0032-5473
• Language: English
• Keywords: Adult; Bipolar Disorder; Hydrocortisone; Humans; Acute Disease; Addison Disease; Female