Case Vignette: When You Can’t Make Sense of the Story

Abstract

T was referred for a psychiatric assessment from the pediatric ward at age of 12 years. He had been admitted from the emergency department because of a 2–3-day history of being quieter than usual, appearing to be “in a different world” and not making complete sense in conversation. He had presented to his GP a week previously with symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, with cough, for which he had been prescribed amoxicillin. T said that he felt “like I did before.” On examination, he appeared to be somewhat agitated and perplexed, but no clear psychotic features were evident. He appeared to have fully recovered within 4 days (the whole episode having lasted 6 days) and was discharged home.