Listed below are medical conditions that sometimes present psychiatric symptoms. Often the psychiatric symptoms are the only ones present, especially at the onset of the illness. This has led to misdiagnoses. One study found that 28% of patients committed to a psychiatric hospital in fact had undiagnosed medical conditions that were responsible for their psychiatric symptoms (Hall, et al, American Journal of Psychiatry, 1981, 181, 629-635). After treatment of the medical conditions, their psychiatric symptoms cleared. Another 18% had undiagnosed medical conditions that contributed to their psychiatric disorders. After treatment for the medical conditions, these patients' psychiatric disorders improved significantly. The disorders listed below are some that are known sometimes to present psychiatric symptoms to the extent that they have been mistaken for the psychiatric condition given at the top of the column. These lists are not complete, nor are the illnesses listed in order of severity or commonness of occurrence.
| Depression | Anxiety | Schizophrenia |
|---|---|---|
| brain tumors pancreatic cancer infectious hepatitus infectious mononucleosis viral encephalitis lupus erythematosis heart disease thyroid disease adrenal gland disease pituitary gland disease hypoglycemia multiple sclerosis Alzheimer's disease Parkinson's disease vitamin deficiencies poisoning narcolepsy epilepsy drug-related disorders | brain tumors infectious hepatitus infectious mononucleosis viral encephalitis lupus erythematosis heart disease thyroid disease adrenal gland disease hypoglycemia hyperglycemia hypocalcemia hypokalemia multiple sclerosis vitamin deficiencies poisoning epilepsy asthma emphysema hyperventilation drug-related disorders | brain tumors AIDS infectious hepatitus viral encephalitis lupus erythematosis thyroid disease adrenal gland disease Parkinson's disease Huntington's disease Wilson's disease B vitamin deficiencies metal poisoning insecticide poisoning epilepsy drug-related disorders (esp. amphetamine psychosis) |
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