INTRODUCTION: Determination of medical stability for patients presenting with psychiatric complaints is common for emergency clinicians. A thorough history and physical examination is important.
CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old male presented to the emergency department (ED) with depression, suicidal ideation, and decline in activities of daily living over six months. While his initial neurologic examination was non-focal, subsequent re-evaluations demonstrated significant changes, and he was ultimately diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates how a detailed history of the present illness could have led to a more accurate and timely medical disposition from the ED.
Bartlett, K., Kane, K. E., Kane, B. G., Weaver, K. R., & Barr, G. C. (2020). Appropriate Evaluation of Psychiatric Patients Highlighted by Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: A Case Report. Clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine, 4(4), 656–659. https://doi.org/10.5811/cpcem.2020.7.47384