Many patients may be misdiagnosed with primary psychiatric disorders, leading to inappropriate treatment due to undiagnosed underlying medical conditions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of patients initially diagnosed with psychiatric disorders whose symptoms were later attributed to medical conditions. The study also examined the changes in their initial and final diagnoses.

This retrospective study reviewed the records of 1,843 patients hospitalized at the Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Psychiatric Inpatient Clinic from 2015 to 2020. Thirteen patients were excluded due to insufficient data. Descriptive statistics were conducted on 30 patients diagnosed with an underlying medical condition.

Diagnoses were revised in 49 patients during follow-up. Nineteen had diagnoses unrelated to medical conditions, while 30 had diagnoses linked to underlying medical conditions. Among these, 16.7% (n = 5) were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, followed by brain space-occupying lesions, frontotemporal dementia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and Arnold–Chiari malformation at 6.7% (n = 2). The average time to diagnosis revision was 4.95 years (SD = 7.78). Psychotropic medications were prescribed in 90% of cases until the diagnosis was revised.

Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for underlying medical conditions during the diagnostic process. A multidisciplinary approach, particularly involving psychiatry and neurology, is essential.

Burak Erman Menkü is an Assistant Professor at Lokman Hekim University, Ankara, Türkiye. He completed his psychiatry residency at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Currently, he works as a specialist in addiction psychiatry at the Özgür Köy Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. Dr. Menkü's interests include addiction psychiatry and consultation-liaison psychiatry. In his academic and clinical work, he makes significant contributions to the fields of addiction treatment and psychiatric consultation.