W L (9449)

Admission Details for Patient: W R L (9449)

Gender: Male Age: 25
Marital Status: Single Religion: Wesleyan Methodist
Occupation: Farm labourer (former soldier)
Address: Barmouth, Merioneth

Date of Admission: May 31, 1920
Date of Death: May 31, 1954
Cause of Death:

Disease: Melancholia
Supposed Cause: Shell shock

Medical Certificate:
He sits all day, brooding over himself, staring vacant expression, has no inclination to work. When working would not concentrate on his work. Appetite voracious. Under the impression that he has a growth in his stomach, no evidence of same. Suffers from delusions that he is being attacked with bayonet, then he becomes (unfinished sentence). Mrs L, his mother: Maniacal. And he has repeatedly attacked herself and his father R L. John Pugh Jones, Barmouth, 31st May 1920.

Approximate duration of present attack: 3 months

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: No

Dangerous: Threats to attack father and mother

Clean Habit:

Food Refusal:

Sleep Habit:

Destructive Habit:

Disposition:

Education:

Physical/Mental State at Examination: A very quiet and sad-looking individual who takes no interest in his surroundings. He is very depressed. Complains of something moving in his abdomen which is painless. A private with the Cheshire Regiment. (Photo - authorisation for treatment from the Ministry of Pensions).

Current Diagnosis: Depressive episode (F32.3)

Case Notes

1920 June 3 (copy of official report) - Suffering from Melancholia. Dull and depressed and takes little interest in his surroundings and is unresponsive to external stimuli.

He has a visceral delusion concerning his stomach that there is something growing there. So far he has been quiet and has given no trouble.

7 - Very well behaved. Quiet and depressed.

16 - The same.

July to Jan 1921 - No further change. May 2 (copy report) - Suffering from Melancholia.

He is depressed and self absorbed and keeps a great deal to himself. He is slow in answering questions and disinclined to enter into conversation. He has a delusion that (he) has something growing in his stomach which causes him acute pain but there is no evidence for this.

July - Still depressed.

Oct - Variable moods, being more depressed at times than others.

Oct 16 - Today a patient volunteered the statement that recently on several occasions this patient has told him that he would take his life, and, unlike most other people, successfully too.

Patient did not deny these statements, so he has been transferred to Ward 3 and placed on the Caution Card.

1922 Jan - Still in Ward 3 in a very depressed state. Answers questions very slowly and never takes an interest in his environment. Apr - Talks quietly and slowly with his head down.

May 2 (copy report) - Suffering from Mental Depression.

States that at times he feels very low and quite fed up with life, within the last three months he has actually threatened to kill himself. He has delusions of sin and also states that he has nightmares which frighten and wake him up at night.

Notes indicate little change in his condition thereafter - 'mopes about all day', 'entirely self absorbed', 'depressed and miserable'.

The diagnosis in official B(oard) of C(ontrol) reports continued to be Melancholia until May 1937 when he is described as suffering from Dementia - He is simple and childish in his manner and appears to have but little realisation of his position. From time to time he is subject to attacks of depression but these appear to be less profound than formerly.

In June 1945 he is referred to as a 'quiet dement' and in 1949 Schizophrenia is given as the principal condition.

Medications/Treatments: Sod. Amytal