J W (9564)

Admission Details for Patient: J E W (9564)

Gender: Female Age: 30
Marital Status: Married Religion: Calvinist Methodist
Occupation: Wife of motor driver
Address: Llanberis, Carnarvonshire

Date of Admission: December 9, 1920
Date of Discharge: May 24, 1921
Discharge Category: Recovered

Disease: Melancholia
Supposed Cause: Heredity

Medical Certificate:
She has been under observation for some time and treated with hypnotics. She is depressed and maintains she cannot live as she used to, that her home is upset and life is not worth living. The Devil told her to go and throw herself into the river. She laughs, stares, looks wild and plays with my clothes. She wishes me to place her in a hole in the wall. She jumps out of bed suddenly and looks for someone under the bed. By her Mother, J P and by her husband: She gets up in the night, sings, laughs and reads aloud for hours. She does not want to live but cannot get anyone to take the children. She disappeared quietly from the house and threw herself into the river. She still watches for opportunity to run out. They have to watch her day and night. She throws crockery about and threatens her husband with a poker. She refuses to answer questions and refuses to eat. Dr. John Roberts, Llanberis, 8th Dec 1920.

Approximate duration of present attack: 2 weeks

Number of Previous Attacks: 0

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 1

Total Number of Admissions: 2

Relatives affected: Maternal aunt

Epileptic: No

Suicidal: Yes (attempted by drowning)

Dangerous:

Clean Habit:

Food Refusal:

Sleep Habit:

Destructive Habit:

Disposition:

Education:

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Poor health and condition. She is depressed and self absorbed, does not take much notice of her surroundings. Answers questions slowly and with hesitation and is disinclined to give much information about herself.

Current Diagnosis: Depressive episode (F32.2)

Case Notes

1920 Dec 13 (copy) - Suffering from Mental Depression. She looks frightened and apprehensive and it is difficult at times to get her to speak. Very uncommunicative but states she wishes to go home.

Her memory is defective and she states that she has never thought of or attempted to commit suicide. At first she was disinclined to take her food but is now better in that respect.

20 - No further change. 1921 Jan 1 - Apprehensive, restless and at times troublesome. Her conversation is rambling and she is unemployable at present.

Her health has improved. 8 - Unchanged. Feb 3 - Still depressed and apprehensive.

28 - Has improved a little and now taking more interest. Mar 12 - Improving slowly but easily upset.

Apr 10 - Continues to improve.

In much better health and has put on a stone in weight during the last month. May 24 - Discharged recovered.

Medications/Treatments:

Additional Notes

Readmission:

12th November 1937 (No. 12988) with a diagnosis of Melancholia.

The Medical Certificate reads: She talks incoherently at times. She stares vacantly into space and refuses to answer any questions put to her.

A week ago she was in my consulting room discussing the fact that her menstrual periods had stopped.

Since then she has refused (blank) and refused to take food or any medicines. She does not know what time of day it is or what day.

By H W, husband:

Refuses to eat and throws her food about the house. Attempted to knife her daughter.

Remained in the asylum until her death from epidemic diarrhoea on 4th February 1938