Question

A 43-year-old female patient is brought to the emergency department with complaints of bizarre speech, visual hallucinations, and changes in behavior. She has no psychiatric history. Before ordering a psychiatric consultation, the emergency room physician orders a batter of blood tests as well as an MRI of the brain. The rationale for this is _________.

Answer 1

Blood tests and an MRI are conducted to rule out neurologic or medical causes of a patient's abnormal symptoms, like hallucinations or bizarre speech, especially when there is no psychiatric history.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rationale for ordering a battery of blood tests and an MRI of the brain for a 43-year-old female patient with complaints of bizarre speech, visual hallucinations, and changes in behavior is to rule out any possible neurologic or medical conditions that could be causing these symptoms. These symptoms, especially in a patient with no psychiatric history, may indicate a possible neurological disorder such as a brain tumor, stroke, or infection. Blood tests can reveal metabolic disorders such as thyroid dysfunction or vitamin deficiencies, which can affect brain function. An MRI can visualize the brain structure to rule out tumors, strokes, or other lesions that may be affecting brain function.