Vacation Days
This blog will be on vacation from Monday, July 27, through Wednesday, July 29. Please come back and see us on Thursday, when our well-restedness will no doubt yield great insight on the subject of mental health.
Love,
Liz
liz | 8:38 AM | alternative treatments
U.S. News & World Report, Did You Have Layoffs Too?
Because someone is not doing their homework over there. Here’s the headline/subhead from a recent USN&WR article:
Doesn’t that sound kind of familiar? That’s because you’ve read it before — numerous times. I’d say the most recent comeback article was last year in Newsweek:
Or how about the AP:
How about this article from Maclean’s from a couple years ago:
How about Time magazine in 1979?:
Or the New York Times in 1990?:
This one is from four years ago:
You get the idea.
What do all these articles have in common? The suggestion that despite its gruesome reputation, due to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (a PR nightmare the APA still can’t get wake up from), it’s safe and — here’s the kicker — enormously effective. The signposts in the articles are all the same. There’s very little deviation from the boilerplate, which you can see in the headlines alone.
When is someone going to write an honest article about ECT that stuffs the “comeback” nonsense up the APA’s ass, where it belongs? Oh, wait, someone wrote a book about it, published by Rutgers University Press.
Folks, if you want to understand this industry, read Doctors of Deception by Linda Andre. ECT is just as fucked up as Big Pharma, if not more so, as big business goes.
Sorry I sound cynical; we had some layoffs here today, and pay cuts and furloughs and the other crap that goes along with a dying industry (journalism, not ECT). So I’m feeling down. But hey, if I can turn it into righteous anger, why not? It has to be good for something.
liz | 5:19 PM | electroshock (ECT), media
Ricky Williams’ Journey
The New York Times ran an article about Ricky Williams that I think was really well-done. It talks about his struggle with marijuana addiction, which compromised his career in the NFL, but more than that, it portrays his psychic battles and explores the way his mind works. It’s a much more nuanced piece than the type we normally see about sports stars; but equally important, it examines the life of the mind in a way that doesn’t pathologize. Ricky Williams is just Ricky Williams, an interesting, layered human being. I wish people were more often written about this way, especially people with “troubles.”
Ricky Williams Is Hoping to Heal Others, and His Image
liz | 8:44 AM | alternative treatments, celebrities
Va. Tech Mental Health Records
Coming soon to a headline near you: The mental health records of Virginia Tech Seung-Hui Cho, who killed 32 people before turning the gun on himself. (That number still stuns me.) Apparently, a worker at the counseling center had taken the records home — I’m guessing to protect someone. And for whatever reason, they’ve just been located now by lawyers working on a civil lawsuit against the university. From the AP:
Kaine said the records would be released as soon as possible. Lawyers in a civil lawsuit found the records in the possession of a former worker at the counseling center.
The governor said taking confidential records from the counseling center was illegal and state police were investigating how the records disappeared.
He said officials first would ask the administrator of Cho’s estate to release the files. A second option was to subpoena the records.
He also said he was not happy that the criminal investigation of the shootings failed to uncover the files.
While a large part of the shooting investigation focused on how university officials and law enforcement responded following the first reports of shootings in a Virginia Tech dormitory, family members of the victims have also inquired about how the troubled Cho slipped through the cracks at university counseling.
In April, on the second anniversary of the shootings, families of two slain students sued the state, the school and its counseling center, several top university officials and a local mental health agency, claiming gross negligence in the chain of events that allowed Cho to commit his killing spree.
The lawsuits also claim a local health center where Cho had gone to say he felt suicidal did not adequately treat or monitor him. The status of the lawsuit was not immediately known.
Holly Sherman, whose daughter Leslie was among those killed, said in November that she was less concerned with continued analysis of how university officials responded to the massacre and more interested in learning about Cho’s mental treatment.
Mike White, whose daughter Nicole was killed, said in November he was concerned about why Cho’s mental records went missing.
Andrew Goddard, whose son Colin was shot four times but survived, said there was more work to be done on mental health services. Goddard was appointed last year to the state board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.
liz | 9:14 AM | criminal justice system
Schizophrenia Made Me Do It?: Shoot Two Cops
From the Charlotte-Observer, about Demeatrius Montgomery, who killed two police officers two years ago. (Hmm. Those wheels of justice sure do turn … slowly.)
A relative recounted for a courtroom Monday how Demeatrius Antonio Montgomery looked out the window of her home and said “they’re after me.”
At other times, Gwendolyn Hinton said her nephew would talk to himself, burst into laughter during serious conversations and behaved almost childlike.
The picture of a disturbed and occasionally violent Montgomery emerged during a hearing to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial in the 2007 shooting deaths of Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton.
Clark, 34, and Shelton, 35, were killed at the Timber Ridge apartment complex in east Charlotte. Their deaths prompted a citywide outpouring of grief as thousands attended their funerals.
Authorities arrested and charged Montgomery, 27, with two counts of first-degree murder. Since then, state mental health workers and his lawyers have tried to assess his mental stability.
But for the most part, Montgomery has refused to speak to them, witnesses testified Monday.
Psychiatrist George Corvin said he has tried to examine Montgomery seven times, but most of the time “he is completely mute.”
Montgomery also has refused to speak with his attorneys, Corvin said.
Corvin, testifying as an expert witness for the defense, said he believes Montgomery has paranoid schizophrenia and is not competent to stand trial. But a state psychiatrist who examined Montgomery disagrees..
In fact, prosecutors think they’re being played.
They noted he has never sought mental health treatment and that his father said his behavior is likely linked to drug use.
Prosecutors said he has functioned well enough while incarcerated to ask relatives to send him books on civil rights leaders and religious material, such as the Quran.
Either way, this case has tragedy written all over it, even above the murders of the officers. First of all, Montgomery has two children, so that’s no good. And his life sounds troubled.
At Monday’s hearing, Hinton, his aunt, spoke of a troubled man who has remained mentally unstable since his teen years.
Montgomery lived with his grandmother as a child because his mother drank heavily, Hinton said. His mother died in a 2003 fire.
Montgomery had little contact with his father, she said.
He attended South Mecklenburg High School, but dropped out in 11th grade. At the time of the police shooting, he was one credit shy of earning his GED certificate.
Hinton said Montgomery’s behavior became erratic after an altercation with police in 1999. Montgomery suffered an injury to his head.
Records show Montgomery was arrested in 1998, charged with larceny and resisting a public officer. He was 16. Montgomery has been found guilty of assaulting a government official or resisting a public officer at least four times, N.C. court records show
In 2004, Montgomery was arrested for hitting the mother of his two children. The police report said he punched the woman on the side of the face several times at their northeast Charlotte apartment, leaving red marks and a bloodshot eye. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation, which records show he violated in 2005.
Hinton said relatives encouraged Montgomery to seek mental health treatment, but never forced him. She said she was worried about his behavior because even as a grown-up he played with children’s toys and watched cartoons.
Montgomery’s competency hearing resumes today.
So sad.
Mental health of suspect in cop killings argued
liz | 1:59 PM | SCHIZOPHRENIA
R.I.P. Scott Kurtis (1970-2009)
From the Chicago Tribune:
The son of former Chicago newsman Bill Kurtis (pictured) was found dead early Monday, July 20, on the Kansas cattle ranch owned by his father, family members said.
Scott Kurtis, 38, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia since his mid-teens, said his stepmother, Donna LaPietra.
Mr. Kurtis was last seen during the day Sunday and may have died late Sunday or early Monday. At the time of his death, Mr. Kurtis was alone in his home on the ranch, LaPietra said.
He was found by his sister, Mary Kristin Kurtis, who lives near the ranch.
Mr. Kurtis’ family is expected to get the results of an autopsy by Thursday, LaPietra said. Mr. Kurtis also suffered heart and thyroid ailments as a result of the schizophrenia, she said.
“It’s a lonely life — it’s a very sad illness,” LaPietra said.
“Quite frankly, there’s not very much anyone can do, so he struggled with that illness and various complications that arise from it,” LaPietra said. “Tragically, Bill and I have known for a while that often … schizophrenics do not live past the age of 40. It was something we always had in the back of our minds, and Scott really struggled.”
For the last 10 years, Scott Kurtis had worked at the ranch in Sedan, LaPietra said.
…
Her stepson often said his dream was to be a truck driver so he could travel and see the country, LaPietra said.
“He loved the road. It was always a battle for us to persuade him that it was better to be on the land than on the road,” LaPietra said. “It was his obsession.”
Full story here.
liz | 9:48 AM | SCHIZOPHRENIA
Depression Confession: Mischa Barton
The willowy star was admitted to a psych institution, putting production on the new CW series Beautiful Life in question. One report said she was involuntarily admitted for a 72-hour hold. It’s kind of strange that she’s going through this shortly after ending work on the horror film Homecoming, in which she played a person with a mental problem. Her co-star Jessica Stroup had this to say to TV Guide about Mischa in the movie:
It’s so interesting to me to play “crazy.” There’s such a fine line between playing it and really believing that your character thinks nothing is wrong and that they’re in the right, that everything they’re doing is for the betterment of whatever. I kind of got to play with that on 90210 this past year, and that’s what Mischa did in Homecoming.
Co-star Morgan Freeman told Extra! that he doesn’t believe her playing “crazy” affected her negatively, saying she was very professional throughout the film shoot.
Here’s how the Germans are writing her situation:
Mischa Barton’s friends were worried she was suicidal, it has been claimed. Pals close to ‘The O.C.’ actress – who was sectioned on Wednesday after being placed under a 5150 hold, a piece of US legislation which means she poses a danger to herself or others – were convinced she would try to commit suicide unless they forced her to get help, BANG! Showbiz reports. A source told the New York Post newspaper: “She’s in very bad shape. She’s running out of money and can’t find love, so now she is looking for a good time to escape her misery. She is on a downward spiral. She is a mess. She is a suicidal, uninsurable mess.”
Poor girl. Sounds troubled. Good luck, Mischa.
liz | 11:16 AM | Uncategorized
Dr. John Grohol Has Far More Patience (Patients?) Than I Do
There’s a prickly debate going on over at Psych Central on the subject of the MOTHERS Act, which, rather unexcitingly, suggests pregnant moms get screened for postpartum depression — something that’s rather standard in the UK and Australia. There is opposition to the Act, as embodied in a post by J. Douglas Bremner, psychiatrist and author, who believes the act stigmatizes motherhood. He quotes Amy Philo, who had a terrible experience after being misdiagnosed with PPD (and who was featured in a recent article in Time about the Act).
John Grohol wrote a response to Bremner’s assertions about the Act and about PPD in general. His response has caused a bit of a furor over there. In broad strokes, I agree with Grohol and endorse his position — which will have the Scientologists among you lashing out against me. But there does have to be a check embedded in the legislation so that medication is the last treatment prescribed rather than the first. And OB/GYNs should not be prescribing psych meds on their own but only in consultation with a psychiatrist. There are already too many scrips flying out of the hands of the wrong people.
It’s interesting that the issue of screening is rather uncontroversial in other countries. I wonder what that says about us. And about Scientology.
Grohol has been responding thoughtfully to all his commenters, which is why he has more patience than I do. I always get overwhelmed at the thought of doing that, so I retreat into a box of cereal or something. Tally-ho, John!
liz | 10:19 AM | depression
Michael Jackson: Suicidal?
From the Telegraph (UK):
Friends of the King of Pop have claimed that he “often overdosed” and had been trying to kill himself for a decade. One said: “We’re surprised he even made it to 50”.
The Daily Star reported that insiders believe the financially struggling star “couldn’t face his problems” and wanted a way out.
He would keep the suicide note in his pocket and overdosed, they told the newspaper. “Michael always talked about dying young,” one said. “He wrote suicide notes then tore them up. He kept one with him – he often read it.
“He wanted everyone to know how sad he was.” Another friend told the newspaper that Jackson had wanted to end his life ever since he was humiliated by child abuse claims in the 1990s.
That’s quite sad.
Michael Jackson Kept Suicide Note
liz | 10:05 AM | celebrities, depression
Dear God, Are You Serious?
Thanks to Susan S. for sending me an article about China using shock therapy to “cure” Internet addicts. It’s really hard to believe. From Yahoo! Finance:
Linyi Mental Health Hospital in eastern Shandong province used the treatment as part of a four-month program that has so far treated nearly 3,000 youths, the China Youth Daily newspaper has reported, citing the psychiatrist who runs it, Yang Yongxin.
The specifics of the treatment come from the Guardian UK:
According to the Beijing News, Yang said he had created the unique “xingnao” (”brain-waking”) therapy which involved sending a small current through the brain. He added that the stimulation might cause pain but was very safe and would not harm children in any way.
An earlier report by the Information Times claimed patients received electroconvulsive therapy if they broke any of the centre’s rules, which included eating chocolate, locking the bathroom door, taking pills before a meal and sitting on Yang’s chair without permission. It said parents had to sign a contract acknowledging their child would be given ECT before admission.
Hmm. Why do I get the feeling this Dr. Yang fellow has some control issues?
The Guardian also asked a young victim about his experience. It doesn’t sound like he was given anesthesia. Nor does it sound like ECT was used therapeutically.
“It was really painful – just like a needle piercing through my brain,” he said.
…
“I can’t remember how many times [they gave me shocks], but it must have been dozens. They would let me rest for a while then give me another. The session lasted about half an hour,” he said.
“I struggled and tried to get up and they said it meant I still did not agree to stay so they gave me more shocks for another half an hour … I agreed to stay because I really couldn’t stand any more of it.”
He received ECT six or seven times at the hospital, mostly for a few minutes at a time.
“I think at the beginning they just wanted to create fear so you would follow orders. The shocks were punishment if I did anything wrong,” he said.
When he tried to escape, he was subjected to another half hour of ECT.
…
“The treatment should last four months, but my father started to think it was all a con,” he said. “He realised that in the classes no one could express opinions contrary to what they were told. Also, when I told him how painful the shocks were and he saw himself how young people grimaced before they went into that room, his heart ached for me.”
Sounds terrible, doesn’t it? But let’s not get all self-righteous about China’s human rights violations. I have a feeling this kind of thing happens in corners of the U.S. too.
liz | 3:08 PM | electroshock (ECT)
