3. Psychiatric Changes
According to experts, psychiatric symptoms are one of the biggest indications of Cushing disease. In both male and female patients changed in mental health were commonly reported. Psychiatric symptoms can include:
Anxiety
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating or focusing
Sleeping problems
Memory loss
Mood swings
Abnormal emotional reactions
Elevated cortisol levels cause chemical changes in the brain that can manifest as depression or cause extreme emotional responses that may be inappropriate such as laughing or crying without a reason. Studies have revealed that ninety percent of Cushing’s patients experience recurring bouts of depression.
Sometimes the depression can be contributed to the feeling of tiredness on a regular basis or due to the fact that the patient has a serious and impairing illness. Extreme anxiety and panic are also shockingly prevalent amongst people with Cushing’s disease. The raised level of Cortisol keeps the body in the flight or fight mode which is a reason why patients feel a sense of anxiety.