1N-COUNT （经济或金融）困境 If someone describes a country or organization as a basket case, they mean that its economy or finances are in a seriously bad state. （经济或金融）困境 [informal]
The country is an economic basket case with chronic unemployment and rampant crime.
这个国家长期失业严重、犯罪猖獗，经济几近瘫痪。
2N-COUNT 精神失常者 If you describe someone as a basket case, you think that they are insane. 精神失常者 [informal, disapproval]
You're going to think I'm a basket case when I tell you this.