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Patient trying to tell something else: severe stress during COVID19 Pandemic

Abdullah, Fa’iza and Mohd Razib, Mohd Zhafri (2021) Patient trying to tell something else: severe stress during COVID19 Pandemic. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 17 (5). p. 106. E-ISSN 2636-9346

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Abstract

Identifying mental health illness poses a dilemma, particularly the distinction between heart disease and severe stress. Without early intervention, it can be escalating into psychiatric disorder and suicide. A 44-year-old man sought cardiologist consultation for the “heart disease” symptoms. As a medical laboratory technician in-charge, his commitments and extensive responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic add to his hypertension and dyslipidae�mia comorbidities. Despite non-significant investigations related to heart disease, he returned with the same intense unresolved symptoms. His Depression-Anxiety Stress-Score (DASS) assessment revealed severe stress. Stress man�agement counselling intervention includes detecting the underlying stress impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, be�havioural changes, and stress coping skills. Reassessment of stress level showed significant improvement at twelve�week follow-up with no similar symptoms. This case highlights the clinical complexity and diagnostic challenges in detecting mental health illness. Diagnostic acronym PROMPT with the ‘PT’ refers to ‘Patient Trying to Tell Something Else’ demonstrated; without a high index of suspicion, mental health ailment may be overlooked

Item Type: Article (Journal)
Additional Information: 5838/91714
Uncontrolled Keywords: Mental health, Covid19 pandemic, Severe stress, Heart disease, Patient
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): Kulliyyah of Medicine
Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Family Medicine (Effective: 1st January 2011)
Depositing User: SR NUR FARHANA LATFI
Date Deposited: 24 Aug 2021 16:31
Last Modified: 24 Aug 2021 16:31
URI: http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/91714

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