Mary Mary Gilbert (890)

Admission Details for Patient: M A G (890)

Gender: Female Age: 63
Marital Status: Single Religion: Protestant
Occupation: Housewife (sic)
Address: Colwyn Bay, Carnarvonshire

Date of Admission: February 2, 1920
Date of Discharge: November 22, 1920
Discharge Category: Recovered

Disease: Melancholia
Supposed Cause: Previous insanity

Medical Certificate:
There is a marked alteration in her facial expression and mental attitude from normal. She is untidy in person and dejected in appearance. She said that everything was wrong and that it was all her fault and that she deserved great blame. She said she could do no work and could give no reason for this. When I asked why she would not eat, she would give no reason and when I said I had been told by her sister that it was because she thought she could not afford to do so, she said they were very poor. Miss Letitia M G, sister, says that Miss Mary A G has lost all power of applying herself to work, that she says everything is going wrong and that the family is on the verge of Bankruptcy, whereas this is not so. Also that she cannot afford to eat and that there is no food in the house. I am informed that there is plenty of food always available in the house. Dr. Robert Ellis Lord, Colwyn Bay, 29th Jan 1920. Petitioner: Miss Letitia M G.

During the whole of the interview the above named had an expression of great misery and was constantly in movement. For the most part she answered questions in monosyllables, but she volunteered the statement that she had great troubles and that 'everything was going wrong'. Her sisters inform me that this is not the case. Miss Charlotte H G tells me that the patient groans a great deal without apparent cause and complains that she and her sisters are on the verge of Bankruptcy. The informant tells me this is not so. Dr. S. L. Butterworth Wilkes, Colwyn Bay, 29th Jan 1920.

Approximate duration of present attack: 5 weeks

Number of Previous Attacks: 1

Number of Previous Admissions: 1

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 0

Total Number of Admissions: 2

Relatives affected:

Number of Previous Attacks: 1

Epileptic: no

Suicidal: no

Dangerous: no

Clean Habit:

Food Refusal:

Sleep Habit:

Destructive Habit:

Disposition:

Education:

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Fair health and condition. She is depressed and miserable.; States that she has terrible troubles which she will never get over. Seems frightened when anyone approaches or speaks to her.

Current Diagnosis: Depressive episode (F32.3)

Case Notes

1920 Feb 5 (copy) - Suffering from Melancholia.

Depressed and apprehensive.

States that it is due to her terrible circumstances and states that she is unable to do her share of the work and that she must be a great trouble to her sisters.

She is in great fear of the poverty which she says is going to overtake her.

15 - Has improved a little.

24 - Improving slowly. Much less depression.

Mar 2 (copy) - still suffering from some degree of Melancholia. Now less depressed and less apprehensive and does not so frequently refer to her domestic worries at home.

Apr 1 - Has improved.

Takes more interest in her surroundings. Depressed at times.

20 (copy) - Suffering from Melancholia but now improving.

Much more cheerful, employs herself.

Will in all probability be ready for discharge about the middle of May.

June 26 - Discharged on trial.

Medications/Treatments:

Additional Notes

Previous admission:

14th August 1917 (No. 870), the supposed cause of her Melancholia illness, war and business worries.

The Medical Certificate reads:

(a) She was excitable in manner, making grimaces and excessive gestures. She said she was wicked and by her evil deeds had ruined her family and that this was due to an evil spirit. When asked why she refused food she admitted that it was because the closet was outside in the garden and that she thought she would soil herself on the way and this though she had complained at the interview of constipation.

(b) By Mrs S O, Groesffordd, Glan Conway, housewife: Miss M A G refuses all food and is constantly depressed. She says she has buried all her friends by her wickedness. She said today 'I have ruined my sisters and I shall ruin you'. Mrs O declares that there is no foundation for this statement.

Miss M A G was discharged recovered on 23rd October 1917.