Question

A 45-year- woman visits a clinic acomplaing of recurrent periods in which she feel separated from her body. She often feels as though, it is not medoing the moving or thinking. I am just a spectator while somebody or something else I making me do things. These episodes cause her considerable worry becuase she knows that these felling cannot acutally be trusted, that there is no possible way for something outside her to be controlling her behavior. In the absence of any genral medical condition or any evidence of substance use, which psychiatric diagnosis might be suggest in this case?

Answer 1

The 45-year-old woman's symptoms, particularly her feeling of detachment, weight, acne, and irregular periods, indicate polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Meanwhile, an elderly woman's loss of motor control suggests the side effects of the nervous system caused by medications such as haloperidol. Both cases emphasize the need for personalized healthcare and the potential influence of hormones on mental health conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 45-year-old woman experiencing episodes where she feels detached from her body may be dealing with a psychiatric condition known as depersonalization disorder. However, her symptoms of irregular periods, overweight, acne, and excess facial hair suggest an endocrine disorder such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS can impact menstrual cycles and create various physical changes due to hormonal imbalances. Additionally, the scenario describing her menstrual cycle irregularities further supports the possibility of PCOS.

Departing from the endocrine focus, the question of an elderly woman experiencing changes in motor control upon taking a medication implicates the side effects of brain-related medications. Specifically, drugs like haloperidol can affect regions of the nervous system responsible for fine motor control. Therefore, the side effects indicating changes in motor control would focus on the central nervous system, particularly areas that coordinate movement such as the basal ganglia and cerebellum.

Considering women's health, critical menstruation studies emphasize the personalized experience of menstruation and its impact on diverse individuals. The medicalization of women's health issues raises concerns about institutionalized sexism and the importance of social support over medical interventions in some circumstances, such as childbirth. This outlook further highlights the need to consider mindful treatment approaches, including attention to hormonal impacts on mental health.