The Quiet Room by Lori Schiller, Amanda Bennett Page B
Authors: Lori Schiller, Amanda Bennett
Tags: REL012000
Ads: Link
them. Sometimes they had delusions, like that they were the Prophet Elijah, or Moses. People with schizophrenia were very sick. Mostly the disease started in people who were very young, just starting their lives. Sometimes drugs helped get their hallucinations under control. Sometimes drugs didn't help at all. Very often people with schizophrenia didn't get better. Some of them spent their whole lives in institutions.
Suddenly I seemed to understand why they would want to transfer her out of Payne Whitney, to turn her over to some other hospital. All my suspicions were correct. They
were
telling us there was no hope.
9
New York Hospital, Westchester Division, White Plains, New York, September 1982–October 1982
HOSPITAL RECORDS
Schiller, Miss Lori
Admitted: September 24, 1982
Unit: 3 North
P SYCHIATRIC C ASE H ISTORY
IDENTIFYING DATA
Date of Birth: 4/26/59
Age: 23
Sex: Female
Race: White
Religion: Jewish
Marital Status: Single
Cultural Background: White, upper middle class, Jewish
Current Living Situation: Alone in apartment in Manhattan
Usual Employment: Insurance Salesperson
INFORMANTS
Patient, unreliable. Parents, reliable.
PRESENTING PROBLEMS
The patient was transferred from New York Hospital—Payne Whitney Clinic for long-term hospital treatment of depression, agitation, auditory hallucinations and confusion. Patient's complaint is that she is very confused, which she attributes to Electro-Convulsive Therapy that she received at the Payne Whitney Clinic and that she is hearing voices that tell her to hurt herself and criticize her.
DESCRIPTION OF PATIENT AND MENTAL STATUS
Upon admission, the patient's appearance seemed very normal. Her dress was appropriate. She seemed a little confused throughout the interview … She reported having hallucinations … She appeared to have no formal thought disorder, flight of ideas or circumstantiality. Cognition was difficult to evaluate because of her confusion … Her memory was poor, especially long-term memory. Her short-term memory was a little better.
RECOMMENDATIONS PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Initially it would be important to clarify the patient's diagnosis. Historically she has been diagnosed as a bipolar disorder, but there are conflicting signs that would indicate a schizophrenic illness …
9/27/82 Nursing Note, 10:30 p.m.
Status: Constant Supervision
Lori is having frequent auditory hallucinations, including voices screaming at her, command hallucinations telling her to go out the window and “fly.” She appears in much distress, often covering her ears. She walks near windows but can be easily encouraged to move away. She looks depressed and voices discouragement and anger over her lack of progress. She refused 9 p.m. medications for this reason, “they don't help take away the voices.” Lori did look cheerful when parents visited.
10/1/82 Nursing Note, 11:45 p.m.
Status: Constant Supervision
While opening front door for another patient Lori tried to run out … Lori was caught before she got outside the door. Staff decided to take patient's shoes away and make her wear hospital pajamas.
10/3/82 Nursing Note, 3– 11 p.m.
Status: Constant Supervision
… patient stated she hears two male voices, can't identify them. These two voices tell her to jump out the window, that she would be able to fly, and also that she should leave the hospital. Patient feels the voices in her head are coming from a “radio inside my head.” Patient also stated she deserves to die because she is no good. Patient feels that dying would end her problem and would make things better for her.
10/15/82 Nursing Note, 3– 11 p.m.
Status: Constant Observation
Patient had a visit from brother this evening. She appeared to be very pleased with the visit. She talked a little bit about still feeling suicidal and wanting to know why, since it was her life why couldn't she end it. She feels she has lived her life already and there isn't anything else to live for.
Suddenly I seemed to understand why they would want to transfer her out of Payne Whitney, to turn her over to some other hospital. All my suspicions were correct. They
were
telling us there was no hope.
9
New York Hospital, Westchester Division, White Plains, New York, September 1982–October 1982
HOSPITAL RECORDS
Schiller, Miss Lori
Admitted: September 24, 1982
Unit: 3 North
P SYCHIATRIC C ASE H ISTORY
IDENTIFYING DATA
Date of Birth: 4/26/59
Age: 23
Sex: Female
Race: White
Religion: Jewish
Marital Status: Single
Cultural Background: White, upper middle class, Jewish
Current Living Situation: Alone in apartment in Manhattan
Usual Employment: Insurance Salesperson
INFORMANTS
Patient, unreliable. Parents, reliable.
PRESENTING PROBLEMS
The patient was transferred from New York Hospital—Payne Whitney Clinic for long-term hospital treatment of depression, agitation, auditory hallucinations and confusion. Patient's complaint is that she is very confused, which she attributes to Electro-Convulsive Therapy that she received at the Payne Whitney Clinic and that she is hearing voices that tell her to hurt herself and criticize her.
DESCRIPTION OF PATIENT AND MENTAL STATUS
Upon admission, the patient's appearance seemed very normal. Her dress was appropriate. She seemed a little confused throughout the interview … She reported having hallucinations … She appeared to have no formal thought disorder, flight of ideas or circumstantiality. Cognition was difficult to evaluate because of her confusion … Her memory was poor, especially long-term memory. Her short-term memory was a little better.
RECOMMENDATIONS PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Initially it would be important to clarify the patient's diagnosis. Historically she has been diagnosed as a bipolar disorder, but there are conflicting signs that would indicate a schizophrenic illness …
9/27/82 Nursing Note, 10:30 p.m.
Status: Constant Supervision
Lori is having frequent auditory hallucinations, including voices screaming at her, command hallucinations telling her to go out the window and “fly.” She appears in much distress, often covering her ears. She walks near windows but can be easily encouraged to move away. She looks depressed and voices discouragement and anger over her lack of progress. She refused 9 p.m. medications for this reason, “they don't help take away the voices.” Lori did look cheerful when parents visited.
10/1/82 Nursing Note, 11:45 p.m.
Status: Constant Supervision
While opening front door for another patient Lori tried to run out … Lori was caught before she got outside the door. Staff decided to take patient's shoes away and make her wear hospital pajamas.
10/3/82 Nursing Note, 3– 11 p.m.
Status: Constant Supervision
… patient stated she hears two male voices, can't identify them. These two voices tell her to jump out the window, that she would be able to fly, and also that she should leave the hospital. Patient feels the voices in her head are coming from a “radio inside my head.” Patient also stated she deserves to die because she is no good. Patient feels that dying would end her problem and would make things better for her.
10/15/82 Nursing Note, 3– 11 p.m.
Status: Constant Observation
Patient had a visit from brother this evening. She appeared to be very pleased with the visit. She talked a little bit about still feeling suicidal and wanting to know why, since it was her life why couldn't she end it. She feels she has lived her life already and there isn't anything else to live for.
Similar Books
