Brief Psychotic Scandal: A Case Study

In today's world of modern technology and scandals, it would not be surprising to periodically encounter a high profile client. As to whether this client is being pursued by the federal law is up for debate; thus, when meeting Randall, one cannot help but examine his story with speculation. From the start, it is nothing new to hear that the government or some other corporation is potentially tapping cell phones, computers, and technological devices. Yet, the degree of discomfort that Randall displays is slightly unwarranted. Only until Randall reveals that he is in possession of classified information and is involved with a major "think tank" does it become clear that he may be experiencing delusions. More specifically, the belief that the government is attempting to conspire against, harm, or obstruct Randall's long-term goals fulfill the requirements of Persecutory Delusions (297.1).
In other words, it would be best to examine the extent of his delusions to determine factors such as emotional distress, motivation level, and potential substance use. Identifying crucial details such as how long he has been experiencing these symptoms would greatly aid in the elimination process of potential diagnosis. For example, if this has only recently happened, Randall may be suffering with a Brief Psychotic Disorder (298.8). However, any time longer than one month can shift the diagnosis to Schizophreniform Disorder (295.40), Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features (296.22), Bipolar Disorder with psychotic features (296.44), or other specified or unspecified schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Much like how revealing the duration of the symptoms aid in the elimination process, other cues such as identifiable stressors or the duration between manic and depressive states would further clarify what Randall is suffering