Abstract

In his case report, A Logic in Madness, Aaron Hauptman details the case of Mr. A, an intelligent college student with Asperger’s syndrome, who became severely depressed subsequent to what he perceived as a rejection by what he viewed as “the love of his life.” Dr. Hauptman describes Mr. A as suicidal and as suffering from all the hallmarks of a major depression. At the urging of his family, he presents himself to a psychiatric inpatient unit and agrees to a voluntary hospitalization. However, he refuses pharmacological treatment or electroconvulsive therapy, both of which his clinicians are considering given the severity of his case. Dr. Hauptman describes the young man’s response...