Mania misdiagnosed as schizophrenia.

The charts of 50 patients diagnosed manic on an index admission were reviewed for a previous diagnosis of schizophrenia. Fifty-six per cent of the patients previously ill had been previously misdiagnosed as schizophrenic. During these "schizophrenic" admissions, patients demonstrated a preponderance of affective (manic) symptoms. Irritability was noted much more commonly than euphoria during these admissions. This coupled with the high rate of psychotic symptoms (78%) during the "schizophrenic" admission were likely important reasons for misdiagnosis.