Hello doctor, My adult child, 25 years old, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for depression and suicidal thoughts. She had therapy for several years. However, when visiting tonight, she mentioned voices and hallucinations. I was taken back bc she never mentioned that before. The nurse said it was possible 1st breakthrough. My question is would not I have noticed those symptoms before now? It left me uneasy and skeptical, and I do not know what to think. Also wondering would they start medicating her for that if she had not had the test or diagnosed?
Hello. I can certainly understand your concern. I have worked through your attached query in detail. Hallucinations like hearing voices can be a feature of severe depression. They can occur if depression progresses through higher grades. It does not imply that you have missed making a note of them. Severe depression with hallucinations is termed as psychotic depression. It requires intensive care in a hospital setting. Antipsychotics, along with antidepressants, are the mainstay of treatment.