Hypokalemia-induced psychosis in a chronic schizophrenic patient

An association is documented between hypokalemia and an acute psychotic decompensation in a patient with chronic schizophrenia. The patient's symptom picture and other aspects of the clinical presentation alone were not sufficient to differentiate between hypokalemic psychosis and an exacerbation of schizophrenia. A restricted focus on a history of psychosis, ignoring the possibility of organic factors, can be misleading and dangerous to the patient.