A new patient visited my office early last week requesting an appointment. Now that I’m experimenting with social media and “Web 2.0,” I thought this case might be an ideal test of the medium. There are quite a few mysteries surrounding my new patient. Although I can’t give out any revealing details due to confidentiality agreements, I hope that the Millennial brand of “crowdsourcing” may lead to new insights or approaches.

The patient appeared to be in his thirties and had an unkempt appearance as if he’s spent time on the streets. He was withdrawn and sullen and lives at a local cooperative where members share food and chores around the property. It includes a small garden and a “halfway home” for former homeless citizens. No family members or prior addresses were mentioned on his information form. It’s almost as if he appeared in Boston out of nowhere.

His first appointment is next week, so I will be sure to post an update after the session. In the meantime, feel free to let me know if you have any theories.

This has been a busy week! I’ve taken on several new patients, and I’m thinking about writing a paper to submit to a local university. I’m hoping to use social media to evaluate the justifiability of ‘five axis’ DSM diagnosis and perhaps develop new avenues of treatment based on group evaluations. One of the patients who came into my office this week was particularly interesting. Perhaps he will make a good test candidate.

On another note, a few months ago, I noticed this article. It has a lot to say about how connecting online can disconnect us in the real world. What do you think?

The Atlantic: Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?

Welcome to Minds and Matters! I have started this blog as a way to explore the potential of social media in the psychiatric discipline. I also plan to explore some of the ways social media are impacting our mental health. I will be posting some further information soon, so stay tuned!