Citation

Lamm KM, Stone CL, Rebon G. J. Family Med. Prim. Care 2020; 9(8): 4412-4414.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_180_20

PMID

33110871

PMCID

PMC7586606

Abstract

Primary-care providers are most often the first point of contact for patients presenting with mental illness. Highly stigmatized and with a litany of other medical issues requiring redress by providers, it may receive inadequate attention, despite its unintuitive consequences. Therefore, the purpose of this case is to demonstrate the potential catastrophic consequences of untreated mental illness by providers. As a result of a serious suicide attempt by a patient afflicted with bipolar disorder, this patient presented with significant blood loss secondary to multiple self-inflicted lacerations to the wrist, parasternal stab wounds, and a resultant hemopneumothorax. By juxtaposing this patient's mental illness with his other traditionally "more" concerning medical history (i.e., multiple myeloma, Factor V Leiden, and recurrent DVTs), we are forced to reexamine where mental illness resides in the hierarchy of treatment.

Language: en

Keywords

Bipolar disorder; community health; family medicine; internal medicine; mental health; mental illness; mood disorders; out-patient; primary care; psychiatry; suicide; trauma