Question

A 80 year old woman is reffered by her primary physician for an assessment of bizarre behavior in a nursing home shresides in. From review her char, she had been in a state hospital for several years but diagnosis shows mental disorder with no specifics. She presents in an almost frozen state, is sitting in her room staring out the windows, and barle tocmunicates with you or the staff. She presents with very right posture and does not speak very often. What would be your provisional diagnosis?

Answer 1

The woman's symptoms may indicate major neurocognitive disorder, possibly Alzheimer's disease or dementia, and her motor control issues could be extrapyramidal symptoms from medication like Haloperidol that affects basal ganglia and motor pathways.

Step-by-step explanation:

Basing on the information given, one could provisionally diagnose the 80-year-old woman with a condition such as major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease, or another form of dementia or possibly a severe catatonic state related to a psychiatric condition. The symptoms described, such as memory lapses, difficulty managing finances, increased irritability, disorientation, a near frozen state, and limited verbal communication, all point towards significant cognitive decline and possible neurological changes. Moreover, the side effects mentioned from the sleep aid under the brand name Haloperidol could suggest extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), which involve the basal ganglia and motor control pathways of the brain.