Patient History: A 42-year-old man comes to see a psychiatrist stating that his life is “crashing down around his ears.” He explains that since his girlfriend of 2 months left him, he has been “inconsolable.” He says that he is having trouble sleeping at night because he is mourning her loss. When asked to describe his girlfriend, the patient states, “She was the love of my life, just beautiful, beautiful.” He is unable to provide any further details about her. He says that they had five dates, but that he simply knew that she was the one for him.
He claims that he was often in the “depths of despair” in his life, but that he also felt “on top of the world.” He denies any psychiatric history or any medical problems. Examination: On a mental status examination, the patient is dressed in a bright, tropical-pattern shirt and khaki pants. He leans over repeatedly to touch the interviewer on…
