Sarah Drake
Hutchinson
Intro to Psychology
December 16, 2008
Jane Doe
Recently I have been contacted by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to talk to
inmate number 9818783 or Jane Doe. Her lawyer has asked my to evaluate her current mental
state. Six months ago Jane Doe has been charged with murdering her three small children in the
family's home. Mrs. Doe and her lawyer are hoping to plea insanity in her upcoming trial set for
January 5, 2009.
Upon talking with Mrs. Doe I have noticed that she is in sincere mourning. In my
experience. I have noticed most people who commit murder do not feel any true sense of
remorse. Jane is often weeping and depressed when I mention her children. She realizes that
she indeed has committed the act but when asking why she doesn't seem to really be able to give a clear answer. When I ask her about herself, her relationships, childhood, siblings, ect. she speaks with a clear mind and gives no resistance or signs that anything is wrong. Everything seemed to have been normal. After several long visits I began to see her symptoms progress. She began insisting everyone was out to get her. She told me the warden was beating her and the she was being attacked continuously. Because Jane is on Camera 24 hours I know this to be false. She has also gone several days without sleep until her body has forced her to "shut down." Jane will go for periods of about a week without eating. Last month i had to order feeding tubes. Jane has also gotten increasing aggressive. Two days ago she attacked a security guard, stole his gun, and turned it on herself. She was able to cause herself harm by shooting herself in the abdomen. Luckily she missed any vital organs and is expected to make a full recovery. I have ordered her to be put on 10 mg of Valium, twice a day until further evaluation.
Three months ago I had called in Jane Doe's family to talk with them about her life and any past issues that may have had its influence over her actions. According to her mother ,Natalie
Port, the family has suffered from a long history of bipolar disorder. Another thing to capture my attention is that Natalie herself has suffered from postpartum depression with psychosis after her
final pregnancy. After a few sessions with Natalie I was able to speak with John Doe, Jane's
husband. According to Mr. Doe, Jane began having hallucinations and violent outbursts about a
week after the birth of their youngest son Joseph. He told me that they went to see a psychologist
already and she was diagnosed with postpartum depression. Dr. Yakovich prescribed Jane with
Zoloft. John told me Jane had made improvements over the next few weeks. John then decided
to go back to work, leaving Jane with the children. He stated that he felt something was not right
so he left work early. On his way home he told me there were police and and an ambulance
outside of his house. Apparently Jane had called 911 herself after realizing what she had done.
After observing her behavior for the past few months and based off the family history of
psychosis and bipolar disorder, I felt it was necessary to get her treatment in an appropriate
facility. I signed on the court papers verifying her insanity plea. When Jane Doe is released from
the hospital for her abdominal injuries she would be transferred to Waverly Hills Estates. Here she
would be put on lock down and monitored for the full 24 hour cycle. She will be treated with
Thorazine twice daily and Valium as needed. Until she show further improvement she will have
sessions with me daily.
Six Months Later
Jane Doe has shown great improvement over her six month stay in Waverly Hills. She
has been moved to the residential wing while being heavily monitored. Her violent outbreaks have
been minimal, and she has been outburst free for 7 weeks. She continues to be treated with the
same dosage of Thorazine and has been free of Valium for a little over a month now. I am
planning on lowering the dosage of Thorazine within the next week. If improvement persists I will
place her on Prozac within the next three months. Because of her crime Jane must carry her life
sentence in a facility. Her improved behavior is promising and she will be allotted visitors with in
the near future. Hopefully we can grant her off campus visits within the next few years. I see Jane
as far from cured. Her stay at Waverly had done a world of good for her and I plan on seeing
steady improvement.
 Razor Hail · Tue Dec 16, 2008 @ 01:47am · 0 Comments |
