Interesting to see this in light of the last episode of S5. Delusions that everyone believed but that the patient didn't know were delusions; broken heart syndrome being treated by electroshock therapy; House in rehab at first honestly, then when he realized it wasn't going to work, sneaking vicodin; Cuddy perjuring herself for him and showing that she cares about him; the patient having his memory erased because of a wrong diagnosis; potential loss of House's medical license because of his drug use. Probably wasn't written as precursor of the current situation explicitly, but they sure were setting the stage for things to come.