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Patient Information

• Date of Service: 09/02/2025
• Place of Service: Office (11)
• Visit Type: Established Patient
• Provider: Maggie Schauer
• Provider Specialty: 394800008
• Telehealth: No

Chief Complaint Patient presents seeking psychiatric evaluation and medication management for depression and suicidal ideation. Patient states they are "willing to try things at this point" regarding psychiatric medication.

History of Present Illness (HPI)

• Onset & Duration:
  Chronic depression present since approximately age 8; symptoms occur nearly every day.

• Location & Character:
  Depression with persistent low mood, anhedonia, decreased energy, and difficulty concentrating.
  Suicidal ideation is present at baseline, historically rated around 5/10, with recent elevation to 6-7/10.

• Aggravating/Relieving Factors:
  Suicidal ideation is exacerbated by work-related stress; the patient’s current depressive state increases during depressive episodes with associated factors such as decreased appetite and hypersomnia.

• Timing:
  Daily presence of depressed mood and chronic passive suicidal ideation with past episodes of active planning.

• Severity:
  Baseline suicidal ideation rated at 5/10 (passive) with recent increase to 6-7/10; past episode included an active suicide attempt (late 2022/early 2023) involving a firearm while intoxicated.

• Narrative:
  The patient, a 35-year-old transgender female, reports persistent depressive symptoms since childhood with intermittent escalation. Recently, following a brief (1.5-day) hospitalization at Rogers Behavioral Health for suicidal ideation tied to work stress, the patient's current suicidal ideation has modestly increased above baseline. The patient left the hospital against medical advice and reports no medication was initiated at discharge. Additional psychiatric symptoms include low mood, anhedonia, decreased appetite with weight loss, hypersomnia, impaired concentration, feelings of worthlessness/nihilism, and psychomotor slowing. Anxiety is experienced intermittently, specifically in unfamiliar or public/social settings.

Past Medical History (PMH)

• Current Medical Conditions:
  No chronic illnesses reported.

• Surgical History:

  • Orchiectomy – January 4, 2025
  • Vocal feminization surgery (Weber glottoplasty) – May 1-2, 2025
  • Upcoming facial feminization surgery (chin and jaw contouring) – Thursday, September 4, 2025

• Head Trauma:
  Multiple head injuries during childhood (physical abuse) and during MMA fighting in the Army; no diagnosed concussions or residual effects.

• Seizures:
  One possible near-seizure episode during alcohol detox while on gabapentin prophylaxis; no confirmed seizure history.

• Psychiatric History:

  • Prior Diagnoses: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (diagnosed during detox)
  • Prior Treatments:
    • Therapy with Julie Reichard at Pathways (since early 2023)
    • Inpatient admission at Rogers Behavioral Health approximately 2 weeks prior for suicidal ideation
    • Detox hospitalization in 2023
  • Suicide Attempts:
    One documented attempt in late 2022/early 2023 (attempted to assemble a gun while intoxicated; partner intervened)
  • Self-Harm:
    Denies traditional self-harm; reports participation in MMA fighting with consensual injury.

• Substance Use History:

  • Alcohol: Severe alcohol use disorder history; sober since April 24, 2023
  • Tobacco: Currently smokes 7-10 cigarettes daily; actively planning cessation for surgery
  • Caffeine: Approximately 450-600 mg daily
  • Other Substances: Denies use of other substances post-2023.

• Current Medications:

  • Estradiol 20mg/0.23mL injection weekly (Sundays)
  • Progesterone 100mg oral daily
  • Glycine (supplement)
  • Biotin (supplement)
  • Daily multivitamin

• Allergies:
  None known

Review of Systems (ROS)

• Sleep:
  Approximately 6 hours of solid sleep at night; tends to oversleep or nap on days off to “decompress.”

• Appetite:
  Decreased; patient eats approximately one meal per day.

• Energy:
  Low; significant effort required to complete tasks.

• Concentration:
  Impaired; difficulty focusing.

• Mood:
  Reports persistent depressive mood.

• Other Systems:
  No additional system complaints noted.

Physical Examination (Mental Status Examination as documented)

• Appearance:
  Age-appropriate, appropriately dressed and groomed.

• Behavior:
  Cooperative and engaged during the interview.

• Psychomotor Activity:
  Within normal limits.

• Speech:
  Normal rate, rhythm, and volume; patient noted to have undergone vocal feminization surgery.

• Mood:
  Described as “depressed.”

• Affect:
  Restricted; patient noted laughing when discussing traumatic content (“I laugh a lot when I talk about it... we laugh to protect”).

• Thought Process:
  Linear, logical, and goal-directed.

• Thought Content:
  Chronic passive suicidal ideation with current rating elevated to 6-7/10; denies active suicidal planning, intent, or access to means; no homicidal ideation; no delusions.

• Perceptions:
  Denies hallucinations.

• Cognition:
  Alert and oriented with intact memory per self-report.

• Insight:
  Fair; acknowledges symptoms and is willing to engage in treatment.

• Judgment:
  Fair; actively seeking treatment and maintaining sobriety.

Assessment / Diagnosis

1. Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Moderate to Severe

   • Clinical reasoning: Meets criteria with persistent depressed mood, anhedonia, decreased appetite, hypersomnia, low energy, impaired concentration, feelings of worthlessness, and chronic passive (with history of active) suicidal ideation.

2. Suicidal Ideation, Chronic

   • Clinical reasoning: Lifelong passive ideation with baseline rating of 5/10, recently elevated to 6-7/10; history of an active suicide attempt.

3. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

   • Clinical reasoning: Patient reports symptoms of anxiety, particularly in unfamiliar and public/social situations; diagnosed during detox.

4. Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe, in Sustained Remission

   • Clinical reasoning: History of heavy daily alcohol use with sustained remission since April 2023.

5. Tobacco Use Disorder

   • Clinical reasoning: Ongoing tobacco use (7-10 cigarettes daily) with active cessation planning due to upcoming surgery.

6. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, by History

   • Clinical reasoning: Extensively documented trauma (childhood abuse, combat exposure, sexual assault); not formally assessed this visit. Recommend continued trauma-focused therapy.

7. Gender Dysphoria, in Treatment

   • Clinical reasoning: Transgender female on hormone therapy; history of surgeries (orchiectomy, vocal feminization, upcoming facial feminization).

Plan / Treatment

1. Pharmacotherapy:

   • Initiate escitalopram (Lexapro) 10mg tablets:
     • Take ½ tablet (5mg) by mouth nightly with food for the first 8 days
     • Increase to 1 full tablet (10mg) nightly with food thereafter
     • Delay initiation until after upcoming facial feminization surgery on Thursday, September 4, 2025
   • Prescription sent to Walgreens pharmacy at 4296 South 76th Street, Greenfield.

2. Patient Education:

   • Reviewed SSRI mechanism of action and expected timeline for therapeutic effect (4-6 weeks).
   • Discussed potential side effects (e.g., GI upset, sexual side effects).
   • Emphasized the importance of consistent daily dosing and not abruptly discontinuing medication.

3. Safety Planning:

   • Continue current therapy with Julie Reichard at Pathways.
   • Instructed patient to contact the provider via secure messaging if experiencing side effects or worsening symptoms.
   • Reviewed crisis resources.

4. Coordination of Care:

   • Primary Care Provider: Monisha Roy Frater, NP (noted in chart).
   • Therapist: Julie Reichard at Pathways.

5. Follow-Up:

   • Scheduled return appointment for October 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM (approximately 6 weeks) to assess medication response and tolerability.

6. Additional Considerations:

   • Continue current hormone therapy regimen.
   • Encourage smoking cessation, especially in light of the upcoming surgery.
   • Consider formal PTSD assessment at a future visit given extensive trauma history.

Additional Documentation

• Risk Assessment:
  Risk Factors: Chronic suicidal ideation, history of suicide attempt, recent psychiatric hospitalization, family history of psychiatric illness/substance use disorder, extensive trauma history, limited social support.
  Protective Factors: Engaged in therapy, sustained sobriety (>2 years), committed long-term relationship, employment, stable housing, proactive in seeking treatment.
  Current Risk Level: Moderate – chronic suicidal ideation above baseline but without an acute plan or current means.

• Informed Consent:
  Patient verbalized understanding of the SSRI treatment plan, potential side effects, and the importance of follow-up.

• Provider Signature:
  Maggie Schauer

• Encounter Duration:
  Approximately 60 minutes (initial psychiatric evaluation).

Quality Grade: A

Additional Questions for Improvement

1. Would additional documentation regarding vital signs or physical examination findings beyond the mental status exam strengthen the overall clarity of the visit note?
2. Are there any further details on the patient’s risk mitigation plan or emergency contacts that should be documented to enhance safety planning?