History
The subject is a 52 year old divorce Caucasian female, of Poland origin, and has lived in the United States for over 20 years. She had been a patient at Tewksbury Hospital since July 2011. She reportedly has a long history of bizarre and impulsive behavior, but has had a steady decline since her divorce in 2004. The patient denies history of taking medication or hospitalization for mental illness. There is no history of mental illness in the family. The subjects states, “My work is very unique. It’s inspirational spiritual work. I work as a self- healer. I do not need to see a physician for any diseases.” She went on saying “I have experienced terrible aggression. I am a psychologist. I can do many professions which I do not wish to discuss.”
The subject lives in a house in the Boston area, where the rooms are rented and they share a common kitchen. She violated a no-harassment order against another residential by coming into the common kitchen, picking up a knife, and startled the alleged victim. She denies SI/HI. She said she had thoughts of “going to sleep”, but has no plan for SI. She denies trauma, physical abuse, sexual abuse/ rape. She started smoking at the age 12, 20/day.
She was admitted to Tewksbury Hospital with a legal status 15, and then later changed to 16c and 8. She was diagnosed with Axis I: Psychosis NOS and Adjustment disorder (unspecified), Axis II: Deferred, Axis III: right shoulder pain, Axis VI: Homeless, limited community support, GAS: 35.
Signs and Symptoms
Psychosis is a serious psychiatric disorder in where there is a gross disorganization of the personality and marked disturbance in reality, testing and the impairment of interpersonal functioning and relationship to the external world (Townsend 2009). It may cause a person to experience delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.
Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified