Result blamed for breakdown
■ ■ BREXIT caused a middle-aged man to suffer an “acute” mental breakdown.
The man, in his 40s, struggled to come to terms with the referendum result and was left feeling “confused and very agitated”.
He was admitted to hospital three weeks after the EU vote in June 2016 in an “acute psychotic state”, doctors revealed yesterday.
The patient had “disordered” thoughts and speech and was hearing “voices” in his head.
He was “paranoid” and “delusional”, believing people were spying on him and planning to kill him.
And he thought radio and TV discussions were targeted at him, according to staff. He made a full recovery and was allowed home from a psychiatric unit after two weeks, with no further episodes.
But the medics warned in the BMJ Case Reports journal his experience shows how political events can take a “serious toll” on mental health.
People who are already psychologically vulnerable may be “particularly at risk” in such circumstances.
Dr Mohammad Zia Ul Haq Katshu, from the University of Nottingham, said: “His mental health had deteriorated after the announcement of the results, with significant concerns about Brexit.
“There was no history of mental ill health in his family but political events can be a source of significant psychological stress.”
The patient, who wants to remain anonymous, said: “I started to believe I was under surveillance.
‘”I remember driving and hearing the radio presenters talking about me as if they could see me and knew what I was thinking.
“Many times these scenarios, quite petrified.” during I felt