Psychosis as a reaction to leukemia in an adolescent

The 13-year-old boy described herein had an acute psychotic episode as an emotional response to the diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Although the final psychiatric diagnosis was brief psychotic reaction, this term does not convey the deep existential dilemma experienced by this child, who had not emotionally dealt with his newly diagnosed disease. The choice of symptoms, the Rubik's Cube, served as a metaphor and an easily understood symbol for his distress. The psychosis allowed this boy to deal with and adjust to his illness.