Need help!

[jkmom]

I came across your forum because I have been frantically searching for information. My son recently has shown some very bizarre behaviour. Since he has been 15, (he is now 20) has had some depression, but very mildly like most teenagers. He has experiemented with marijuana, and alcohol. About 3 years ago he experienced a traumatic event at school (he was stabbed int he back 6 times) although he was lucky and they were all flesh wounds- at the time he thought he was going to die. Over the past 2 years he has been difiant, angry, unmotivated, fatigued, can't sleep at night (again we though this to be a difiant teenager) When he entered college, it seems the person who stabbed him goes to the same school ( we beleive now- that having to see this person everyday has given him anxiety and stress) Now about 2-3 months ago- his behaviour has gotten completely strange. he is paranoid, he keeps referencing to the stabbing- and how he feels it was a conspirancy form the mob, to shut down his dads businees, he feels his girlfirend has been cheating on him, that all his friends are also part of the conspiracy and trying to kill him, rob us etc etc- he believes that his dad takes drugs (which he doesn't) he says he himself has seen it (not true) he believes his grandmother moloested him when he was little (absolutely not true) and as time goes on his paranoia is getting worse- when one does not bleive him he tends to get very agressive and twice now violent. We had to take him out od=f school, we are now seeking all kinf=ds of natural remedies to assit with his sletping & anxiety- but we'd liek to get him to a physchiatrist just for a diagnosis- at this time he rfuses to go to any medical doctor, even for a physical. My question is this: Can this be post-traumatic stress disorder? Does paranoia exist in this disorder?

[jkmom]

Thank-you Dr- and I am trying to get him into a DR- and he flatly refuses- how is something like this usually treated?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Your son is having a very serious breakdown that can be very effectively treated so you must get him to a psychiatrist, one way or another. He sounds dangerous to himself and others, so you may have to talk to a psychiatrist first yourselves to see how to make sure he gets prompt treatment. Yes, it could be a consequence of the stabbing, but at this time, the cause does not make too much difference in the treatment.