A depressed gorilla

doi:10.1136/bmj.39245.483900.AD

BMJ 2007;335:445 (1 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.39245.483900.AD

Filler

A depressed gorilla

Olimpia Claudia Pop, senior house officer, South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London

popolimpia@hotmail.com

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

My secretary said: "There is a very unusual patient..." (beinga psychiatrist, however, I don't find "unusual patients" reallycome as a surprise to me) "a gorilla, an agitated gorilla."

"Is it in A&E?" I blurted out.

"No, no, it's in the zoo. The vet wants your advice."

The whole unit soon knew the story: the consultant in whosecatchment area the zoo fell claimed it should be his patient,one colleague asked in an irritated manner if we were now supposedto cover the zoo as well, and many, including my room-mates,wanted to join me at the initial assessment.

So far so good, but when I got there the story was not funnyat all. The gorilla, who had been the alpha male for years andwas a very easy going guy, had suddenly lost interest in theleadership position and become withdrawn, which had led to fights. . . [Full text of this article]

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