Monday, 17 December 2012

Mental Health Letter Found on the Street


SEEING as I'm considering becoming a Consultant Psychiatrist, or at least a Clinical Psychologist, the following piece of correspondence, found on my road this morning, was of interest. And because I want an office job, I thought I'd practice my typing by tapping it in here. NOTE: I changed the names (have YOU ever met a guy named Potishell?) and NO it is not me. Check the mood report.  Does that sound like me? No. Also if it was me, they'd probably note an increased rate and production of speech. [Incidentally the mood section does make psychiatry look like a joke; I would rate my mood as 8/10 and yet Binky says I seem "manic".] Here goes:~

Thank you for referring Mr Potishell Pantswell to services and he was seen on the 21.08.12 and I am now writing with my findings and recommendations.

Reason for Referral: Has a history of mental health problems and you have requested a further assessment of his mental health.

Presenting Problem:
Potishell reported that he is feeling well within his mental state, despite experiencing some residual psychotic symptom (sic). He added that he was not quite sure why he had been referred to us and it was more than likely it was suggested that he would need to be linked in with mental health services.

Mental State Examination:
Appearance/Behaviour: A male, with a medium build, from a Black Afro-Caribbean background. He presented as calm, pleasant and engaged well during the assessment with a good rapport and eye contact established.
Speech: Spoke clearly in English with a normal rhythm, rate and tone observed.
Mood: Objectively he appeared stable within his mood. Subjectively he described his mood as okay and he self-scored his mood as 7 out of 10.
Appetite: Okay
Sleep: Expressed that he is experiencing dreams, which at times he finds distressing.
Abnormal Perceptions: Reported that he experiences visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations. He described that he sometimes see's (sic) vivid lines in different colours, hears occasional voices which he ignores and sometimes feels as if someone is touching his chest and he was unable to describe the type of touch. Currently he reported that his symptoms have greatly reduced, however he still experiences some residual psychotic symptoms.
Concentration: Okay
Delusions: Nil
Self Harm/Suicide: Nil
Insight: Good

Drugs/Alcohol:
Has a past 10 year history of crack cocaine, heroin and alcohol dependence. Currently Potishell denied any current alcohol or illicit drug use. [I bet he's lying.]

Police/Forensic:
Was sentenced to 4 years for burglary [naughty boy! What a terrible thing to do!] and is on probation until 2013 and he has to attend probation twice a week. [How dreadful for him.]

Employment:
Works part time as a domestic cleaner at B&Q.

Finances:
Is in receipt of a part time salary and expressed that he was managing on this salary. [What? In London?? Either he has no interests and cheap taste, or else he's surely working or committing crime on the side.]

Treatment:
Olanzapine 12.5mg daily, which was prescribed 2 years ago.

Summary And Recommendations
A 38 year old male, who is experiencing some residual symptoms of abnormal perceptions in the form of visual and auditory hallucinations. He has currently remained relatively stable on Olanzapine 12.5mg, which was prescribed 2 years ago. Currently there are no risk factors exhibited and No self-harm or suicidal thoughts elicited.

Plan:
1: I discussed his case with Dr Mazooramabakhadan and he recommended that you increase his Olanzapine to 15mg daily.
2: Dr Parper could you refer Potishell to the Neurologist and conduct a full physical health check.
3: Potishell's mental health to be monitored accordingly by primary care services.
4: Potishell has been advised that he can present at our 24-hr walk in service if he is to find himself in a mental health crisis.

4 comments:

  1. Old Mother Crack Pot17 December 2012 at 20:46

    Oh hello my dear. Don't you think it's a bit intrusive of you, typing in random highly personal medical correspondence of this nature into the internet... then again I've read the contents and it could well be said those symptoms apply to 95% of the population!

    Do please consider posting up fewer of those tiresome pulsating visuals. They're giving me migraine!

    Kind regards.

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  2. Hi old mother crack pot.I think its nice of Potishell sharing this info with us.That name is so nice like poetry.
    Gledwood is a nice name to but I really adore Potishell.I bet I be dreaming of you sex pot with the sexy nameXoXo

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  3. Old Mother Crack Pot21 December 2012 at 15:19

    "Potishell" doesn't sound at all poetic to me. It is more reminiscent of something you might want to pick up by the sack-load at a gardening center than anything "literary"...

    Oh and by the way can I just point out regarding my double-barrel surname that I come from two of America's oldest and most dignified families, the Cracks and the Pots. Laugh if you will, but please bear in mind that you'll be laughing at America's highest aristocracy!

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  4. Beverly: that was a real letter except obviously I made the name Potishell up. I wouldn't have been able to make up the bullshitting psyche language. I wonder whether he really is working as a part time cleaner or claiming benefits and pretending not to..?

    Mother Crackpot: when the Cracks and the Pots all met up, didn't they think their 2 names might just have sounded a little bit weird together..? Unless they really are a bunch of Crack Pots in which case they couldn't be expected to know or care...!

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Shoot!