Brain tumors

Abstract

Facts box Although rare, psychosis secondary to brain tumors, including as the primary presentation, is well recognized. The prevalence of brain tumors in psychiatric patients is about 3% (range 1.7%-13.5%) from autopsy series, relative to 1% to 1.5% in the general population. The presentation may be indistinguishable from primary schizophrenia, or more typically involve nonauditory hallucinations, neurological signs, and prominent cognitive impairment. Tumors presenting with psychotic symptoms are most likely to be in the frontal or temporal lobes or in the pituitary. The most common association is with low-grade, slow-growing tumors such as meningiomas and low-grade gliomas. Treatment dire..