Bessie Hughes (6644)

Admission Details for Patient: Bessie Hughes (6644)

Gender: Female Age: 17
Marital Status: Single Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Domestic servant
Address: Colwyn Bay, Carnarvonshire

Date of Admission: October 16, 1905
Date of Discharge: June 22, 1906
Discharge Category: Recovered

Disease: Melancholia and Stupor
Supposed Cause: Not known

Medical Certificate:
I have been unable to get a single answer to any question I have given her, she is morose, depressed looking and with great difficulty can be got to take any food, she came home on Saturday 14th and has slept little since. Her father Hugh Hughes states that she came home on Saturday 14th from Dr. Thompson, Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire, where on the 13th she attempted suicide twice by jumping through a window and nearly succeeded. He says she is very melancholy and depressed, sleeps but little, and can only with difficulty be induced to take food. Dr. Price Morris, Old Colwyn.

Approximate duration of present attack: 7 days

Number of Previous Attacks: 0

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 0

Total Number of Admissions: 1

Relatives affected:

Epileptic: No

Suicidal: Threatened and attempted

Dangerous: No

Clean Habit: Yes

Food Refusal: Yes

Sleep Habit: Bad

Destructive Habit: -

Disposition: Well behaved

Education: -

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Health good. Patient went from Colwyn Bay to Yorkshire and a fortnight afterwards became suddenly insane and was brought back to her home. She had been with a Dr. Thompson, of Calder Grange, Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire. No cause is assigned.

Current Diagnosis: Schizophrenia (F20.2)

Case Notes

1905 Oct 20 - A peculiar looking girl of average height, well built and muscular and apparently in good health. Dark hair, sallow complexion, anxious questioning expression.

Suffering from Depression with Stupor.

Does not speak but seems to understand what is said to her. She is very resistive and becomes from time to time violently excited and struggles furiously with her attendants.

27 - Very troublesome, resists everything, has to be forcibly fed. Does not speak and is wet.

Nov 15 - Still resistive but is now fed with less trouble and she does not have so frequently the paroxysms of excitement. Has lost flesh and does not look so well.

Dec 9 - Resistance gone. Does not speak but smiles in a foolish manner when spoken to. Is quiet and manageable and have moved her to workroom.

1906 Jan 20 - A good example of Dementia Praecox.

Silly and demented. Untidy and careless of herself.

Useless. Cleanly.

Mar 9 - Improving. Cleanly. does some work and her case is full of hope. May 7 - Doing well. Works in Laundry daily. Has got fat and strong. June 20 - Will soon go home. A little simple and childish otherwise quite well and a very good girl.

Discharged June 22nd 1906.

Medications/Treatments: Forcibly fed.

Additional Notes

Described in January 1906 as a good example of Dementia Praecox.

The first patient from North West Wales to be given this diagnosis.