Sue Anne Brinkley is an eighteen-year old college freshman enrolled at Camyron State University. She presents herself at the campus counseling center following the unexpected death of her best friend. She exhibits the following symptoms --- disturbance in her thought process tangential thinking) as well as delusions of grandeur she believes herself to be Joan of Arc) and bizarre behaviors repeatedly cleaning her sorority house stove with a toothbrush). According to her roommate, Alison, these symptoms started about eight or nine days ago approximately 36 hours after hearing the news of her best friend's death). Sue Anne has no prior history of mental illness and her level of premorbid functioning was noted as "excellent." Based on this information, what do you believe is Sue Anne's most likely diagnosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sue Anne's symptoms (tangential thinking, delusions of grandeur, bizarre behaviors) started shortly after her best friend's death, suggesting that her symptoms are related to a stressor (marked stressor). The symptoms have persisted for less than a month, indicating a brief psychotic disorder rather than schizophrenia (which requires symptoms to be present for at least 6 months). Hypomania with psychotic features is a possibility, but the symptoms are not consistently elevated and there is no history of bipolar disorder. Schizoaffective disorder requires a mood episode (mania or depression) to have occurred simultaneously with psychotic symptoms, which is not evident in the case.

Sue Anne Brinkley Is an Eighteen-Year Old College Freshman Enrolled