A number of different medical conditions can cause psychotic symptoms in individuals. Some, like the delirium after surgery, epilepsy and urinary tract infections, are well known, but some are less well-known. This is a more comprehensive list of medical conditions that sometimes cause psychotic symptoms. These conditions should be ruled out prior to a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. Information about age, and health history should be used to determine if these conditions are a likely reason for the emergence of psychotic symptoms:
- Hyper- or hypothyroidism
- Cushing’s Disease (Cushing’s Syndrome) (increased release of cortisol due to a tumor)
- Insulinoma (tumor on the pancreas)
- Adult-onset Tay-Sachs Disease and Neimann-Pick Type C disorders (genetic conditions)
- Lupus (auto-immune disorder)
- Hashimoto Encephalopathy
- Diseases uncommon in the US, but prevalent in other places may cause psychosis
- Cerebral malaria
- Toxoplasmosis
- HIV
- Syphilis/neurosyphilis
- Narcolepsy (excessive daytime sleepiness)
Freudenreich, O. (2010). Differential diagnosis of psychotic symptoms: medical mimics. Psychiatric Times, 27(12), 56-61.
Maria Stacy, MA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern