High degree of suspicion is needed

In some illnesses, if there is a brain involvement, it can give rise to neurological and neuro-psychiatric manifestations, explains Dr. Shanika Ekanayake. Neuro-psychiatric manifestations: They are common when brain areas like the limbic system and temporal lobes get involved.

Dr. Ekanayake points out that there is much worry among psychiatrists about cases which can mimic primary psychiatric illnesses.

“If misdiagnosed, it can give rise to devastating outcomes with routine treatments. Therefore, a clinician needs to have a high degree of suspicion in differentiating between a true psychiatric illness and one that comes in the guise of a psychiatric illness but is due to a different cause,” she adds.