Case report reveals misdiagnosis of psychosis in a man with intellectual disability, indicating need for better diagnosis and psychosocial interventions.
Introduction and Importance: Misdiagnosis is a substantial obstacle in psychiatry, often exposing patients to unwarranted risks. Case Presentation: We present a 35-year-old male with longstanding developmental delays who was repeatedly diagnosed with psychosis and treated with antipsychotics. He developed catatonia during his course of treatment. A thorough re-evaluation, incorporating developmental history and neuropsychological assessment, confirmed intellectual disability rather than primary psychosis. Clinical Discussion: This example illustrates how diagnostic overshadowing and neglecting developmental history can result in treatment errors, such as catatonia due to improper antipsychotic medication. The results were much better after the right diagnosis and a move to psychosocial and behavioral therapy. Conclusion: A comprehensive developmental history and periodic diagnostic reassessment are essential in psychiatry to prevent harmful misdiagnosis and optimize patient care.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gupta et al. (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: