Mrs. Waltham is 75 years old and has been brought in for treatment by her daughter. Her daughter claims that Mrs. Waltham has not only become forgetful, but has begun fabricating stories about how she is a Bavarian princess who must return to her homeland to help the king. The clinician automatically diagnoses Mrs. Waltham as having schizophrenia. What important information has the clinician obviously ignored in making this diagnosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The clinician has ignored the fact that Mrs. Waltham is 75 years old. It is important to consider age-related changes in cognition and memory before jumping to a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It is possible that her symptoms are due to a neurocognitive disorder such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, it is important to gather more information about her medical history, medications, and any recent life events that could be contributing to her symptoms.

Mrs Waltham Is 75 Years Old and Has Been Brought