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ENDGAMES: Jane Morris A maths student with psychiatric symptoms BMJ 2009; 339: b2639 [Full text]

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Alternative Conceptualisation

michael mccreadie   (9 July 2009)

Alternative Conceptualisation 9 July 2009
michael mccreadie, head of dept; psychology and speech and language therapy Daldorch House School Send response to journal: Re: Alternative Conceptualisation	I was interested in the hypothetical or otherwise case of the Maths Student with psychiatric symptoms. An alternative construct of how this person presents may be to look at the issue from a developmental perspective. These types of symptoms are also frequently reported in individuals with Asperger syndrome, who like the student described in the article, use their narrow area of interest as a coping mechanism at times of stress. Similarly, people with Asperger Syndrome report differences in sensory integration across all sensory domains, which may provide an alternative reason as to why this student had particular difficulties with perceived heights. To rule out an Autism Spectrum Disorder and provide confirmation of OCD, it may been helpful to have carried out a developmental history. Competing interests: None declared