Question

(11.1) Here is a case about Jane Jane is a 19-year-old University student who has just been transported to the chemical dependency unit at the local hospital. You are asked to do an assessment on her to see if she needs to be admitted for a drug problem or sent to the psychiatric unit for further observation. You meet with Jane and notice that she is barefoot, wearing loose 60's style clothing and her eyes are very dilated. She tells you the following story in a rapid pressured pattern of speech. "A few hours ago I was at the Metallica concert and got to thinking that James (lead singer) was talking to me in my head. He told me not to leave the stadium, so I didn't. Everyone else left, my ride left, but I just couldn't. Then I got here somehow. I remember thinking I wouldn't get through and would really lose my mind, especially when that pay phone I was using started melting in my hand. I felt I had to talk really fast before it melted. I really don't remember much of the concert or anything from this morning. I do remember that I had trouble getting to my feet to walk up the stairs to my seat. I remember we all passed around something and the next thing I knew, I started feeling really restless. I just couldn't sit still. I was jumpy, nervous, and sick to my stomach. My heart was racing and I was sweating, even though it wasn't very warm out. I was high and really got into the people and the whole scene. The scenery was fantastic and I could actually see the sounds--there were waves and triangles dancing in front of my eyes to the music. Then it got scary. Things got blurry and faces started looking mean and ugly. That's when I started hearing James in my head telling me not to leave the stadium. Then I was all alone and called for help." Jane has no previous history of mental health problems and she has no police record. Though young, she does have a long history of drug use. Jane started smoking "pot" daily at age 13. Her weekends were spent doing many different types of hallucinogens. LSD, XTC, mescaline and "shrooms". Jane tells you her mother and father divorced when she was 10 years old. He was career military and they moved about every two years. She remembers always feeling lonely and started taking drugs because she felt it made her more interesting to be with. It also was a way to relieve the boredom and loneliness. She finished high school with average grades and wasn't sure what to do next. But, when her Mom was about to get married, she told Jane she had to "go away to college." Would you consider Jane to have a drug problem, a mental health problem, or both? Why?

Answer 1

Jane has mental problem that has lead her to Substance abuse.

From the above case history Jane suffered with a Borderline

Personality Disorder in her adolescence.

The constant feeling of loneliness and boredom indicates a Borderline Personality Disorder and the person suffering from this Disorder is more prone to Substance abuse,which is clearly indicated in the excerpt.

Now her problem has aggravated as she is having hallucinations and illusions with hearing of voices.Her condition can be categorized as Schizotypal Personality Disorder with Drug Abuse and dependency.She should be sent to the psychiatric unit for further observation.