Volume 2 Issue 2 February, 2012
How do I Understand This Case ?
On an Out‐patient day at NIMHANS, a PG presented the history of a male patient in his mid‐30s with complaints of bouts of abnormal behavior. He had delayed milestones of development, could not progress beyond 8th standard and had mild mental retardation. The clinical features of his bouts of abnormal behavior were suggestive of Temporal Lobe Epileptic phenomena.
Before referring him to the neurologist, I wanted to probe a little deeper into a part of his history that interested me. It was that he was married about 8 years previously to an academically brilliant girl, a rank student. Moreover, she wanted to pursue her studies into engineering or medical, and did not want to get married so soon. However, she had yielded to her parents’ wishes and had agreed to marry. She came to know of her husband’s illness after the marriage. I asked her about the possible consequences of the above set‐backs on her life. For some reason that I could not identify at that time, I was thrilled by her answer.
She answered (non‐literal English translation): “My disappointment increased after knowing about my husband’s abnormality. But, I gradually became happier after realizing his virtues. He is more loving and caring than even my parents, the like of which I had never experienced during my childhood. If I am ill with fever, etc., he nurses me with tender care. He also looks after and plays with our two children, I could not have been happier.”
If she had pursued her studies, she might have become a great achiever. But, I believe her current contentment as the greatest achievement. Or, has she wronged (or, deceived) herself by becoming contended?
Retired Prof. of Psychiatry,NIMHANS, Bengaluru
