Can lupus cause mental issues?

Lupus and its treatments can impair mental & emotional health. 80-90% of people with lupus. Neuropsychiatric lupus describes feelings of depression, headaches, and lupus fog — trouble thinking or remembering due to lupus. 25% of lupus patients experience major depression and 37% have major anxiety, research shows.


Can lupus make you psychotic?

Neuropsychiatric manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are common; however, psychosis per se is bit uncommon. They may be cognitive deficit, lupus headache, psychoses, seizures, peripheral neuropathy, and cerebrovascular events.

Does lupus make you bipolar?

Occasionally lupus causes an illness which is closer to schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder (manic depression). A very small minority of patients go on to develop a dementia syndrome, with loss of recent memory, personality change, speech and coordination problems.


What is lupus psychosis?

Lupus psychosis is a rare, potentially devastating, but treatable manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that is characterized by delusions and hallucinations, and is associated with certain patient characteristics, according to a large, multicenter, observational study.

Can lupus affect your thinking?

Many people with lupus sometimes have confusion, memory loss, and trouble expressing thoughts. The medical term is cognitive dysfunction. These symptoms can come and go. Lupus brain fog can be frustrating, but you can learn to live with your symptoms and improve your quality of life.


Impact of Lupus on Mental Health



Can lupus cause personality changes?

Mood swings and personality changes.

People with lupus may experience unpredictable changes in moods and personality traits. This can include feelings of anger and irritability. These may be related to the disease process or, in some cases, the use of corticosteroid medications.

How does a person with lupus act?

Common symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, sun sensitivity, painful and swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems. There is no one test for SLE. Usually, your doctor will ask you about your family and personal medical history and your symptoms.

What are the most severe symptoms of lupus?

Lupus symptoms include: 1,2
  • Muscle and joint pain. You may experience pain and stiffness, with or without swelling. ...
  • Fever. A fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit affects many people with lupus. ...
  • Rashes. ...
  • Chest pain. ...
  • Hair loss. ...
  • Sun or light sensitivity. ...
  • Kidney problems. ...
  • Mouth sores.


How does lupus damage the brain?

The lupus disease process creates certain proteins and antibodies that can cause inflammation in your brain and around your nerves. They can also damage your blood vessels, which makes it harder to get oxygen to your brain, and makes blood clots more likely.

What are three triggers of lupus?

Common triggers include:

Overwork and not enough rest. Being out in the sun or having close exposure to fluorescent or halogen light. Infection. Injury.

Can lupus cause nervous breakdown?

Lupus can also affect your nervous system and cause symptoms such as memory problems, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and confusion.


What is lupus depression?

When certain organs or organ systems are affected by lupus (such as the brain, heart, or kidneys), clinical depression may occur. A lupus flare also can trigger clinical depression, both because you feel ill, and because it may seem as though you are never going to be free of lupus.

What is the life expectancy with lupus?

The prognosis of lupus is better today than ever before. With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span.

How is lupus psychosis treated?

Lupus psychosis usually correlated with disease activity and improved with immunosuppressive therapy, corticosteroids, and low-dose antipsychotics [8693]. On first episode psychosis, the use of antipsychotic agent was recommended, in which chlorpromazine and haloperidol were most commonly used [86].


Can lupus cause anxiety attacks?

Psychological manifestations such as depression and anxiety are very common. Major depression is present in approximately 25% of lupus patients, and major anxiety in 37%. These presentations are often among the earliest symptoms to manifest in lupus.

Can stress cause lupus to get worse?

Research shows that stress can worsen lupus symptoms and trigger flares. Stress relates to the feeling of being overwhelmed. Under stress, the body secretes hormones like cortisol to trigger the fight or flight response. In instances of prolonged stress, the human body can be severely affected.

Does lupus progressively get worse?

Overall, SLE gradually gets worse over time, and damage to the major organs of the body can be life-threatening.


What should you not do if you have lupus?

5 Things to Avoid if You Have Lupus
  1. (1) Sunlight. People with lupus should avoid the sun, since sunlight can cause rashes and flares. ...
  2. (2) Bactrim and Septra (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) Bactrim and Septra are antibiotics that contain sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. ...
  3. (3) Garlic. ...
  4. (4) Alfalfa Sprouts. ...
  5. (5) Echinacea.


Do you see a neurologist for lupus?

A neurologist may be part of your team in order to address the nervous system manifestations of lupus.

What are the signs lupus is getting worse?

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if: Your symptoms get worse or you develop any new symptoms. These may include aching or swollen joints, increased fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss, skin rashes, or new sores in your mouth or nose.


What organ is most affected by lupus?

Kidneys. Lupus can cause serious kidney damage, and kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death among people with lupus.

What are the four stages of lupus?

The four different types of lupus
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Systemic lupus is the most common form of lupus—it's what most people mean when they refer to “lupus.” Systemic lupus can be mild or severe.
  • Cutaneous lupus erythematosus. ...
  • Drug-induced lupus erythematosus. ...
  • Neonatal lupus.


What is the number one symptom of lupus?

The most common lupus symptoms (which are the same for men and women) are: Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time) Pain or swelling in the joints. Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes.


Why did I get lupus?

Doctors and researchers don't know what causes lupus, an autoimmune disease in which your body's immune system makes proteins called autoantibodies that attack your own cells and tissues.

How do you prove lupus?

Your doctor will look for rashes and other signs that something is wrong. Blood and urine tests. The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test can show if your immune system is more likely to make the autoantibodies of lupus. Most people with lupus test positive for ANA.