Reason for Visit:
- Patient presents with increasing anxiety, panic attacks, and feelings of hopelessness over the past three months, significantly impacting daily functioning.
History of Present Illness:
- Ms. Jane Doe, a 34-year-old female, reports a three-month history of escalating anxiety, characterised by generalised worry, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating. She describes experiencing frequent panic attacks, occurring approximately 3-4 times per week, accompanied by palpitations, shortness of breath, and a sense of impending doom. These symptoms began shortly after she was made redundant from her marketing job. She reports depressed mood, anhedonia, and intermittent suicidal ideation without a plan or intent. She denies psychosis. Her sleep is disturbed, often waking early and struggling to fall back asleep. Appetite has decreased, leading to a 5kg weight loss.
Past Psychiatric History:
- Patient reports a previous diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder in 2018, managed with sertraline 50mg daily for two years, with good symptomatic control. No history of psychiatric hospitalisations. No previous suicide attempts.
Past Medical History:
- Diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2020, managed with levothyroxine 75mcg daily. No history of HIV, TB, epilepsy, or diabetes. Blood pressure is typically within normal limits.
Medications:
- Levothyroxine 75mcg daily (private pharmacy)
- No current psychiatric medications.
Allergies:
- Penicillin (rash)
Medication Trials:
- Sertraline 50mg daily from 2018-2020: effective for anxiety, no significant side effects reported. Patient stopped due to feeling well and financial constraints.
Access to Weapons:
- Patient denies access to weapons or firearms. No family members in the home have access to weapons.
Social History:
- Ms. Doe lives in a rented RDP house with her two children (ages 8 and 12). She is currently unemployed since being made redundant three months ago. She has a supportive sister who lives nearby and occasionally helps with childcare. She recently ended a long-term relationship.
Education:
- Completed matric (Grade 12). Attended university for one year, studying marketing, but did not complete the degree due to financial reasons. No known learning barriers.
Relationships:
- Patient has a strained relationship with her children's father. Her relationship with her sister is close and supportive. Recently ended a 5-year intimate partnership due to stress from her job loss.
Work:
- Previously employed as a Marketing Assistant for 7 years until three months ago. Currently unemployed and receiving SASSA Child Support Grant for her children. Significant work-related stress prior to redundancy.
Supports:
- Sister (emotional support, occasional childcare). Community mental health services are not currently accessed. No involvement with NGOs. Relies on state clinic for chronic medical care.
Protective Factors:
- Strong bond with her children, desire to be a good mother. Supportive sister. Previously responded well to psychiatric medication. Denies current intent or plan for self-harm.
Negative Factors:
- Unemployment, recent relationship breakdown, financial strain, lack of formal mental health support.
Suicide Risk Assessment:
- Reports intermittent passive suicidal ideation (wishes she wouldn't wake up) but denies active intent, plan, or access to means. No previous attempts. Protective factors include her children and sister. Risk is currently low to moderate, warranting close monitoring.
Forensic History:
- No legal history, arrests, charges, or protection orders.
Family History:
- Maternal aunt diagnosed with depression. No family history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, suicide, or substance abuse. Father has hypertension.
Mental Status Exam:
- Appearance: Neatly dressed, fair hygiene, appears fatigued.
- Behaviour: Cooperative, fidgety, maintains eye contact intermittently. Psychomotor activity normal.
- Speech: Normal rate, volume, and rhythm.
- Mood: "Anxious and hopeless."
- Affect: Constricted, anxious.
- Thought Process: Linear and goal-directed, but preoccupied with worries.
- Thought Content: Preoccupation with financial difficulties and future. Denies delusions.
- Hallucinations: Denies auditory, visual, or other hallucinations.
- Cognition: Appears grossly intact, able to follow conversation.
- Insight: Fair insight into her symptoms being related to her current stressors.
- Judgement: Appears fair.
Objective Findings:
- Blood Pressure: 120/80 mmHg. Weight: 62 kg (decreased from 67 kg). No acute physical distress noted. HIV/TB status unknown; patient will be referred for testing.
Diagnosis:
- Major Depressive Disorder, single episode, moderate severity (ICD-10 F32.1)
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (ICD-10 F41.1)
Diagnostic Formulation:
- Ms. Doe is a 34-year-old female presenting with a re-emergence of anxiety symptoms and new onset of moderate depressive symptoms, likely precipitated by the acute stressor of job loss and relationship breakdown. Biopsychosocial contributors include a history of GAD, financial strain, recent unemployment, and lack of current formal mental health support. Protective factors include a supportive sister and motivation to care for her children. Her hypothyroidism is well-controlled and unlikely to be a primary contributor to current psychiatric symptoms.
Assessment and Plan:
- 1. Initiate Escitalopram 10mg daily for depression and anxiety. Advise patient on potential side effects and expected time to efficacy.
- 2. Provide psychoeducation on stress management techniques and sleep hygiene.
- 3. Refer to state mental health services for ongoing psychotherapy and counselling regarding job loss and relationship issues.
- 4. Advise patient to follow up with her general practitioner for HIV/TB screening.
- 5. Schedule follow-up appointment in 2 weeks for medication review and symptom reassessment.
- 6. Safety planning discussed, patient denies intent. Encourage contact with sister for support and provision of crisis contact details.
Reason for Visit:
- [describe reason for visit] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
History of Present Illness:
- [describe history of present illness, including onset, duration, and progression of psychiatric symptoms] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Past Psychiatric History:
- [describe past psychiatric history, including hospitalisations (e.g. admissions to district, regional, or psychiatric hospitals), treatments, diagnoses, and outcomes] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Past Medical History:
- [describe past medical history, focusing on any conditions that may impact psychiatric health, e.g. HIV, TB, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Medications:
- [mention current medications, including psychiatric medications and dosages, including chronic medication dispensed via state clinic or private pharmacy] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Allergies:
- [mention allergies] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Medication Trials:
- [describe previous psychiatric medication trials, including efficacy and side effects] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Access to Weapons:
- [describe access to weapons or firearms, including whether kept at home or by family members] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Social History:
- [describe social history, including living situation (e.g. informal settlement, RDP house, with family, boarding), relationships, and available support systems] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Education:
- [describe education history and current educational level, including school attendance, learning barriers, and highest grade passed] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Relationships:
- [describe interpersonal relationships, including family dynamics, intimate partnerships, and caregiving responsibilities] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Work:
- [describe work history, current employment status (e.g. unemployed, informal work, SASSA grant recipient), and work-related stressors] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Supports:
- [describe supports, including family members, neighbours, community mental health services, NGOs, or clinic-based services] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Protective Factors:
- [describe protective factors, such as positive coping strategies, religious involvement, family support, or future goals] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Negative Factors:
- [describe negative factors or stressors, such as substance use, intimate partner violence, lack of family support, unemployment, or housing instability] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Suicide Risk Assessment:
- [describe suicide risk assessment, including ideation, intent, plan, access to means, previous attempts, and protective factors] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Forensic History:
- [describe legal history, including arrests, charges, protection orders, bail, parole, or history of forensic psychiatric assessments] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Family History:
- [describe family psychiatric and medical history, including any history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, suicide, substance abuse, or chronic illness in close relatives] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Mental Status Exam:
- [describe mental status exam findings, including appearance, behaviour, speech, mood, affect, thought process, thought content, hallucinations, cognition, insight, and judgement] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Objective Findings:
- [describe objective findings, such as physical examination findings, blood pressure, weight, HIV/TB/Viral Load/CD4 status if relevant] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Diagnosis:
- [mention diagnosis based on DSM-5 or ICD-10 criteria used in public or private sector South African mental health settings] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Diagnostic Formulation:
- [describe diagnostic formulation, including biopsychosocial contributors to mental illness such as trauma, substance use, family conflict, or socioeconomic stress] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
Assessment and Plan:
- [describe assessment and plan, including treatment goals, medication changes, referral to state mental health services or psychology, admission if applicable, and follow-up recommendations] (only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, otherwise leave blank.)
(Never come up with your own patient details, assessment, plan, interventions, evaluation, or continuing care — use only the transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note as a reference for the information included in your note. If any information related to a placeholder has not been explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, you must not state the information has not been explicitly mentioned — just leave the relevant placeholder or section blank.)
(Use as many bullet points as needed to capture all the relevant information from the transcript.)