Differential Diagnosis
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Complicated grief: The woman's behavior of preparing meals for her deceased husband and then discarding the food suggests a difficulty in accepting the loss of her loved ones, which is a hallmark of complicated grief. Her actions indicate a disconnection from reality regarding the death of her family members.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Given the traumatic nature of the accident and the woman being the sole survivor, PTSD is a plausible diagnosis. Symptoms such as avoidance of reminders of the accident (e.g., not acknowledging her husband's death) could be part of the PTSD presentation.
- Severe depression: The woman's behavior could also be indicative of severe depression, particularly given the loss she has experienced. Depression can manifest with significant cognitive and behavioral disturbances, including a disconnection from reality.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Amnesia: While less likely given the specific behaviors described, amnesia (especially dissociative amnesia) could be considered, especially if the woman's inability to recall or accept the death of her family is seen as a memory issue rather than a grief or psychiatric issue. It's crucial to rule out any underlying neurological or psychological conditions that could lead to memory disturbances.
- Rare diagnoses
- Psychotic depression or brief psychotic disorder: These conditions, while less common, could present with a disconnection from reality similar to what the woman is experiencing. In psychotic depression, the depressive symptoms are accompanied by psychotic features, which could include delusions about the death of loved ones. Brief psychotic disorder is characterized by a sudden onset of psychotic symptoms, which could be triggered by the extreme stress of the accident and loss.