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the alpha male for years andwas a very easy going guy, had suddenly lost interest in theleadership position and become withdrawn, which had led to fights.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]

Add to CiteULike CiteULike Add to Complore Complore Add to Connotea Connotea Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us Add to Digg Digg Add to Reddit Reddit Add to Technorati Technorati What's this?

Relevant Articles

Psychosocial interventions?: Dave W H Baillie
BMJ 2007 335: 736. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Unwitting experimentation?: Choice of antidepressant: Martin Duerden
BMJ 2007 335: 578. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

SHOs in the mist?: Eamonn J Clarke
BMJ 2007 335: 578. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

How to do it: Trish Groves
BMJ 2007 335: 0. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

Baillie, D. W H (2007). Psychosocial interventions?. BMJ 335: 736-736 [Full text]
Duerden, M. (2007). Unwitting experimentation?: Choice of antidepressant. BMJ 335: 578-578 [Full text]
Clarke, E. J (2007). SHOs in the mist?. BMJ 335: 578-578 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Choice of antidepressant: Martin Duerden
bmj.com, 2 Sep 2007 [Full text]
SHOs in the mist?: Eamonn J Clarke
bmj.com, 4 Sep 2007 [Full text]
Neglect of Psyhosocial Interventions in a Depressed Gorilla: Dave W H Baillie
bmj.com, 3 Oct 2007 [Full text]