Ellen's husband was killed in an automobile accident two weeks ago. Since that time she has had repeated episodes of fleeting hallucinations and delusions. Her behavior has been marked by periods of incoherent speech, screaming, suicidal and aggressive behavior, and disorientation. After about a month, her behavior slowly returns to normal. She would be best diagnosed as suffering from

She would be best diagnosed as suffering from brief psychotic disorder.

Explanation:

Traumatic events, such as a death in the family, can lead to brief psychotic disorder. This disorder is characterized by its short duration - a day to a month. The person suffering from it presents psychotic behavior such as hallucinations, delusions, and confusion, leading to violent behavior or even attempts at killing oneself. Ellen's symptoms are consistent with the description of brief psychotic disorder, as is the cause of her behavior.

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