Sustained hypertension and tachycardia associated with new onset psychiatric disorder in an adolescent

Authors: Gleason, Mary Margaret; Klitzke, Margaret

Source: Primary Care and Community Psychiatry, Volume 12, Number 2, 2007 , pp. 89-95(7)

Buy & download fulltext article:

The full text article is not available for purchase.

The publisher only permits individual articles to be downloaded by subscribers.

Abstract:

Aim: This case report describes the evaluation and treatment course of an adolescent with a medically and socially complex history who acutely presented with vital sign instability and mental status changes. Method: Her clinical presentation and medical work-up provide an opportunity to review the differential diagnosis of disorders presenting with mental status changes in the context of vital sign abnormalities. Results: This patient's course highlights the importance of considering organic medical components of a patient's presentation, a patient's individual psychological style, and social context. Primary care, pediatric specialists, and child psychiatry teams collaborated extensively to identify appropriate evaluation and treatment approaches. Conclusions: Patient populations with central nervous system vulnerabilities require especially careful assessment of biology, psychological functioning, and social supports, and their interactions when they present with psychiatric symptoms.

Keywords: Developmental disabilities; Autonomic instability; Mania

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17468840701590448

Affiliations: 1: Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI, USA

Publication date: 2007-01-01

More about this publication?