A 44-year-old woman is seen in the emergency department after telling her general practitioner that she felt l…

Question

A 44-year-old woman is seen in the emergency department after telling her general practitioner that she felt like giving up. She has four weeks of low mood, poor sleep and reduced appetite since her mother died. She has had passing thoughts that life is not worth living, but no plan, no intent and no previous attempts. She has never self-harmed, does not drink and has no access to firearms. Her husband and her sister will stay with her and she agrees to follow-up. Which one of the following disp…

Accepted Answer

Referral to the community mental health team tomorrow

Answer

Admission to an acute psychiatric unit

Answer

Discharge with general practitioner review in one month

Answer

Overnight observation in the emergency department

Answer

Referral to a private psychologist within four weeks

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