A psychiatric specialist was called for a consult.
Click on the arrows below to follow along with the psychiatrist’s findings:
Heart transplant at age 16; never felt "normal" due to heart condition. Preoccupied with his mortality and believes his heart will fail or be rejected soon. This is based on information he found on the internet regarding average 10-year life expectancies post-transplant.
Past psychiatric history: started to experience depressive symptoms around age 18, saw a psychiatrist, had several failed trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) due to side effects (drowsiness, constipation, cognitive slowing, blurred vision).
Voluntary inpatient psychiatric hospitalization (2 years ago due to treatment non-adherence, suicidal ideation), discharged with buproprion XL 150mg. Responded well to meds. Tolerated well, no side effects.
Stopped medication 2 months ago because he had nothing to look forward too.
During college, had monthly visits with a mental health care team at the college clinic; average grades, had a circle of friends.
Completed college 6 months ago, lost access to mental health team, unable to find work, friends and peers have all moved on.
Feels worthless and isolated.
Family psychiatric history (history of depression on maternal side, good response with tricyclics).
