Report of a case with the improvement of the psychic symptoms since three days after switching from betamethasone to prednisolone-The evaluation by POMS

ABSTRACT

In palliative care setting, betamethasone is commonly used to relieve various symptoms such as general malaise, loss of appetite, fatigue and pain. In patients administered steroids, the psychic adverse effects should be cared as well as the physical adverse effects. Profile of Mood States (POMS) is a tool to evaluate a temporary mood and an affective state of a patient. The contracted version of POMS shortens intervention time by reducing question items. We administered betamethasone 3mg/day to the patient with digestive symptoms by bowel obstruction and the symptoms improved. Four months later, as the patient complained anxiety, irritation and insomnia, we prescribe predonisolone switching from equivalent dose of betamethasone. In this case we experienced that psychic symptoms improved without worsening digestive symptom since three days after the drug change. We evaluated a mood and an affective state before and after the drug change by using POMS contracted version. Palliat Care Res 2010; 5(2) 332-337