Holden Caulfield Evaluation

This is the first psychiatric hospital admission for the patient, Holden Caulfield, a 17 year-old male, at Massachusetts General Hospital. The subject freely admitted himself to the care facility at 13:00 on November 28, 1958, with the company of his parents-whose consent was necessary given Holden's legal status as a minor. His induction will be taking place without any incident. Within the time of his arrival, Holden appeared to be quite exhausted and dilapidated. He was wearing woolen slacks and a warm jacket, yet appeared to be suffering from some sort of intense disturbance. His walk was slow and his gait guarded, as if he expected an attack at any moment; he appeared lucid, and sarcastic as well as confused, however, did not mask his above average intelligence. This became specifically apparent to the nurses assigned to his immediate care. The patient has also displayed a penchant for sarcastic comments, especially regarding “phonies”-at this time, we remain unsure of whom he is referring to when he uses this terminology. Holden is the second eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield. Mr. Caulfield is a lawyer, and his wife, a homemaker. He is one of four children born to the couple and his relationship with his parents and siblings appears to be normal. Preliminary interviews indicate that Holden had idolized his older brother, D.B., throughout his childhood. The patient also appears to have a close relationship with Phoebe, his youngest sister. Holden’s other brother, Allie, was two years his junior and died of leukemia on July 18, 1946 (page 38). Tragic as this loss was for the Caulfield family, it seems to have had a greater impact on Holden than on any of the others. He was thirteen at the time of his brother's death, and upon hearing the news, broke all the windows in the garage with his bare fists. Holden’s parents report that his personality underwent a radical change following Allie’s death; among the most notable changes, they list a decline in