Diagnostic categorization of psychiatric disturbance in Cushing's syndrome

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Abstract
A longitudinal psychiatric history was obtained from 30 patients with proven Cushing''s syndrome. Of the patients 25 (83%) met strict diagnostic criteria for an episode of affective disorder during the course of their endocrine disturbance. Twenty patients met criteria for endogenous depression and 8 patients also reported an episode of mania or hypomania. Schizophrenic syndromes were not evident, although 2 patients met criteria for a psychotic depression. Patients frequently attempted to minimize or conceal serious psychiatric disturbance, including a suicide attempt. Typical affective syndromes occurred in patients with adrenocortical tumors as well as in those with ACTH-dependent Cushing''s syndrome.