Organic brain disorders manifesting as psychiatric symptoms

Abstract

Organic brain disorders (OBD) may present with multiple psychiatric symptoms which may mimic as primary psychiatric disorder. We present three cases such as astrocytoma, cerebellar cyst, and hypothalamic hamartoma presented to our psychiatric outpatient department with psychotic, manic, and headache symptoms with no physical neurological signs and symptoms. Treatment resistance and relapse motivated us for seeking neuroimaging that subsequently revealed space occupying lesions. Some patients with neurologically silent OBD may present with psychiatric symptoms only. Therefore, we should consider of neuroimaging in patients with a change in mental status regardless of a lack of neurological symptoms.

Keywords

• astrocytoma
• cerebellar cyst
• hypothalamic hamartoma
• neuroimaging
• organic brain disorders
• psychiatry