“Did you think Colonel Bentworth was a suicide risk?” asked Jacob.
“Not really,” said Cassi, knowing she was hedging. Cassi was well aware that her ability to estimate suicide risk was approximately the same as the man in the street’s. “Burning himself with his cigarette was self-mutilating rather than self-destructive.”
Jacob twirled a lock of his frizzed hair and glanced at Roxane, who had been on Clarkson Two longer than anyone else. She was recognized as an authority of sorts. That was another reason why Cassi enjoyed the psychiatry service. There wasn’t the stiff structure that existed elsewhere in the hospital, with physicians implacably at the top. Doctors, nurses, aides, everyone was part of the Clarkson Two team and respected as such.
“I’ve tended to ignore the distinction,” said Roxane, “but I suppose there is a difference. Still we should be careful. He’s an extremely complex man.”
“That’s an understatement,” said Jacob. “The guy had a meteoric rise in the military, especially during his multiple tours of duty in Vietnam. He was even decorated several times, but when I looked into his army record, it always seemed as if a disproportionate number of his own men were killed. His psychiatric problems didn’t seem to show up until he’d reached his present rank of colonel. It was as if success destroyed him.”
“Getting back to the risk of suicide,” said Roxane, turning to Cassi. “I think the degree of depression is the most important point.”
“It wasn’t typical depression,” said Cassi, knowing she was venturing out on thin ice. “He said he felt empty rather than sad. One minute he acted depressed and the next he’d erupt with anger and abusive language. He was inconsistent.”
“There you go,” said Jacob. It was one of his favorite phrases, and its meaning was related to how he stressed the words. In this instance he was pleased. “If you had to pick one word to characterize a borderline patient, I think ‘inconsistency’ would be the most appropriate.”
Cassi happily absorbed the praise. Her own ego had had very little to feed on during the previous week.
“Well, then,” said Jacob. “What are your plans for Colonel Bentworth?”
Cassi’s euphoria vanished.
Then one of the residents said, “I think Cassi should get him to stop smoking.”
The group laughed and her tension evaporated.
“My plans for Colonel Bentworth,” said Cassi, are … ” she paused, “that I’m going to have to do a lot of reading over the weekend.”
“Fair enough,” said Jacob. “In the meantime I’d recommend a short course of a major tranquilizer. Borderlines don’t do well on extended medication, but it can help them over transient psychotic states. Now then, what else happened last night?”
Susan Cheaver, one of the psychiatric nurses, took over. With her usual efficiency, Susan summarized on the significant events that had taken place since late afternoon the previous day. The only happening out of the ordinary was an episode of physical abuse suffered by a patient called Maureen Kavenaugh. Her husband had come for one of his infrequent visits. The meeting had seemingly gone well for a while, but then there were angry words followed by a series of vicious openhanded slaps by Mr. Kavenaugh. The episode occurred in the middle of the patient lounge and severely upset the other patients. Mr. Kavenaugh had to be subdued and escorted from the ward. His wife had been sedated.
“I’ve spoken with the husband on several occasions,” said Roxane. “He’s a truck driver with little or no understanding of his wife’s condition.”
“And what do you suggest?” asked Jacob.
“I think,” said Roxane, “that Mr. Kavenaugh should be encouraged to visit his wife but only when someone can be with them. I don’t think Maureen will be able to retain a remission unless he’s brought into the therapy in some capacity, and I think it’s going to be hard to get him to cooperate.”
Cassi watched and listened as the whole psychiatric team participated. After Susan had finished, each of the residents had an opportunity to discuss their patients. Then the occupational therapist, followed by the psych social worker, had a chance to speak. Finally Dr. Levine asked if there were any other problems. No one moved.