My Uncle's Mental Disorder

Okay, so here is a question that requires a story or a brief history lesson about my uncle. My Uncle is currently 43. He's lived at home with his Parents all his life due to his mental disorder. My Uncle has a Mild Retardation. His brain disorder has never been narrowed down to Autism, ext. My Uncle has been, "deteriorating" on his mental capabilities, over the past decade. He use to be able to carry on a conversation and understand what you mean. Now he can barely pay attention. He can talk about a certain subject for an hour or more, but he struggles. He goes down the street swinging his hands around, ext. Even though he does that he can somewhat act accordingly. He has held down a job being a usher at a crowded ballpark for years. Even though he deals with large crowds of people. He still has problems doing things. He wont go, nearly every time my family decides to go out to eat. He always says he's worried about it being crowded. He refuses and told us that he is afraid of people staring at him. My uncle also, repeats things constantly. I once head him say a single phrase over 100 times just because he though my Grandma didn't hear him. He also has told me that he can't shut off his brain. Here lately he has been getting pissed off easier. I'm not sure if it's his age or what. But he'll snap at us easily. And FINALLY THE QUESTION. About a year ago he went to the doctor. My uncle has a bit of "White Coat syndrome". So they wanted to calm him down. They prescribed him Zoloft. My Uncle told her (literally) over 100 times that Zoloft can cause thoughts of suicide. So she didn't make him take it, he went back to the doctor and he, apparently, didn't care. Is he showing sings of a metal breakdown? The Over excessive talking, acting out more, not wanting to do things. Which he use to do, just not as much. So should I be worried? Should we help get him on medicine, and if so what kind? I don't want my uncle to be a zombie, I just want him to get back to his old self.

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

I think you are quite right to be worried about him.  I suggest a complete evaluation before making any medication decisions.  I can't tell you what the problem is, but obviously something has thrown him off his old equilibriium.

tg