Mania Induced by Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototherapy Treatment: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Phototherapy has been used for decades in the treatment of many common dermatologic conditions, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, vitiligo, and scleroderma, among others. Prior to the commencement of phototherapy, many factors must be considered. For dermatologists, the most important factors include the determination of a patient's skin phototype, concurrent use of photosensitizing agents, and calculation of minimal erythema dose (MED). Though infrequent, the side effects to phototherapy commonly discussed with patients include burns, ocular toxicity, polymorphous light eruption, potential for skin carcinogenesis, and possible worsening of the skin disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.