[Gradually increasing apathy and self-neglect in a 29-year-old man]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Psychiatric symptoms in young adults can mask underlying organic pathology.
• Differential diagnosis often includes mood, psychotic, or personality disorders.

Observation:

• A 29-year-old man exhibited progressive apathy and self-neglect.
• Initial psychiatric evaluations were inconclusive.
• Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging revealed a large frontal lobe meningioma.

Findings:

• A frontal meningioma was identified as the cause of the patient's psychiatric symptoms.
• The tumor had extensively invaded the frontal lobe.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider organic causes in young adults presenting solely with psychiatric symptoms.
• Early MR imaging can be crucial for diagnosing brain tumors presenting as psychiatric disorders.