History of Presenting Complaints:
- The patient, a 35-year-old male, presents today with complaints of persistent low mood, anhedonia, and fatigue for the past six months. He reports difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite (decreased), and sleep disturbances (insomnia). He states that these symptoms have significantly impacted his work and social life. He reports feeling hopeless and worthless. He denies any suicidal ideation or attempts.
- The patient also reports experiencing mild anxiety, particularly in social situations. He feels overwhelmed by his responsibilities and struggles to find enjoyment in activities he previously enjoyed.
Past Medical & Psychiatric History:
- The patient was previously diagnosed with major depressive disorder two years ago and was treated with sertraline. He reports that the medication was effective initially, but he discontinued it six months ago due to side effects and a perceived improvement in his symptoms. He has not been hospitalized for psychiatric reasons.
- The patient has no chronic medical conditions.
Medications:
- Sertraline 50mg daily (discontinued six months ago).
Family History:
- The patient's mother has a history of depression, currently managed with medication.
Social History:
- The patient is employed as a software engineer and has a master's degree. He reports being single and living alone.
- The patient reports smoking cigarettes occasionally but denies alcohol or recreational drug use.
- The patient has a small circle of friends and family, but feels isolated due to his symptoms.
Mental Status Examination:
- Appearance: The patient is well-groomed and dressed in casual attire. He appears his stated age.
- Behaviour: The patient is slightly restless, fidgeting in his chair. His movements are normal.
- Speech: The patient's speech is of normal rate and volume, but he pauses frequently, and his responses are somewhat delayed.
- Mood: The patient reports feeling "down" and "sad."
- Affect: The patient's affect is constricted, with limited emotional expression. He smiles rarely.
- Thoughts: The patient's thought process is linear and goal-directed. He denies any suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, or psychotic symptoms.
- Perceptions: The patient denies any hallucinations or unusual sensory experiences.
- Cognition: The patient is alert and oriented to person, place, and time. His memory appears intact. He is able to follow instructions and answer questions appropriately.
- Insight: The patient acknowledges that he is experiencing symptoms of depression and recognizes that they are impacting his life.
- Judgment: The patient demonstrates good judgment and understands the potential consequences of his actions.
Risk Assessment:
- The patient denies suicidal ideation or intent. He denies any plans to harm himself or others. He has no access to lethal means.
Diagnosis:
- Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Moderate.
Treatment Plan:
- Planned investigations: None.
- Medication plans including changes, continuing medicatins, prescriptions, medications ceased or any other medication related plans: Discussed restarting sertraline at 50mg daily. Will monitor for side effects and efficacy.
- Psychotherapy plans and strategies: Recommend individual psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy) to address negative thought patterns and develop coping mechanisms.
- Planned family meetings & collateral information, psychosocial interventions: None at this time.
- Follow-up appointments and referrals: Schedule a follow-up appointment in four weeks to assess response to medication and therapy.
Safety Plan:
- The patient has been instructed to contact the crisis line or seek immediate medical attention if he experiences any suicidal thoughts or urges. He has been provided with the crisis line number and the contact information for his therapist.