Jim Guinee wrote:
> > Jeff Ricker wrote:
>
> > I have had several students develop psychotic episodes during the
> > semester (and sometimes show up for class during them)
>
> How do you know they had developed a psychotic episode? Doesn't that
> sound more like the power of suggestion -- what kind of students do you
> teach?
>
> What have you [said??] when this has occurred?
Jim,
Although I believe that suggestion (which perhaps we might define, in part,
as uncritically acting upon the ideas of another) is a very powerful
influence on various mental events and behavior (especially those involving
anxiety, depression, and pain), I have seen little evidence that it can lead
to psychotic episodes outside of the intense and prolonged interactions that
sometimes lead to shared psychotic disorder. But perhaps I simply have not
heard of the relevant studies.
But you ask for examples. Last year, I had a student stop me just before I
entered my abnormal-psych class (he was a student in that class). He
discussed with me all sorts of bizarre delusions and was overtly psychotic at
the time. Just last week I found out that he had been diagnosed with
schizoaffective disorder (and he is still a student here). I also have had
several students develop manic episodes during which they became psychotic
and sometimes would come to see while experiencing psychotic episodes. They
would tell me afterwards that they had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
What have I said? I have attempted to get them help in any way I could. For
several years, I worked with seriously mentally ill people (mostly
schizophrenics) at a community mental health center here in the Phoenix area.
So, I am very used to talking with such people. I also know that a large
number of these people enroll, at times, in the ten local community colleges;
so it is not unusual that, in teaching a course such as abnormal psychology,
I would see a very large number of seriously mentally ill people over the
years. Lastly, my students are in the prime age ranges for developing various
psychotic disorders (especially schizophrenia) as well as disorders that
often involve psychosis (such as bipolar disorder). Given that several
percent of the general population develop such disorders at some point during
their lifetimes, and also given that they tend to want to find out more about
their problems (if they have begun to experience some already) and, thus,
tend to enroll in abnormal psychology, it would be more surprising if I had
never come across students experiencing psychotic episodes.
But then, perhaps I somehow DO cause the development of psychotic symptoms in
vulnerable students simply by talking about them. It would be an interesting
research project, don't you think?
Jeff
--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
"Science must begin with myths and with the criticism of myths"
Karl Popper
Listowner: Psychologists Educating Students to Think Skeptically (PESTS)
http://www.sc.maricopa.edu/sbscience/pests/index.html
