Case Lab · Type A · Foundation

F23

Three days, a lost job, and a shifting picture

Youssef, 34, was well until three days ago, shortly after unexpectedly losing his job. Since then he has expressed a rapidly changing set of beliefs — first that coworkers conspired against him, then, within the same day, that he has a special mission to warn the public about a disaster — alongside brief episodes of hearing voices that come and go. His mood swings between intense fear and elation within hours. He is bewildered and disoriented about what is happening to him. There is no history of similar episodes, no substance use, and no medical illness.