Psychiatric Symptoms in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract

According to the American College of Rheumatology classification, lupus erythematosus has five psychiatric manifestations, including cognitive dysfunction, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis, and acute confusional state, which are frequently accompanied by other symptoms. Cognitive dysfunction is the most common psychiatric manifestation in lupus patients with a prevalence rate ranging from 20% to 80%. The expression of psychiatric manifestations has been considered to be associated with disease activity, side effects of medications, and/or psychosocial stresses from the chronicity of lupus, but this has not been fully understood. Appropriate management of psychiatric symptoms is essential as it affects treatment adherence and quality of life. This review aimed to facilitate understanding of psychiatric manifestations of lupus through literature review on the prevalence, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatments of each psychiatric symptom.