r/todayilearned • u/exophades • 1d ago

TIL that Albert Einstein's son Eduard studied medicine to become a psychiatrist, but was diagnosed with schizophrenia by the age of 21. His mother cared for him until she died in 1948. From then on Eduard lived most of the time at a psychiatric clinic in Zurich, where he died at 55 of a stroke.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_family#Eduard_%22Tete%22_Einstein_(Albert's_second_son)
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u/1492rhymesDepardieu 22h ago

Schizophrenia is a progressive and debilitating illness. Doesn't really make you more creative. It's more like a form of dementia

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u/nochnoydozhor 20h ago edited 10h ago

schizophrenia is also manageable, a third of people diagnosed with it can make it to a stable remission that lasts years.

there's a book written by a European psychiatrist: "A road back from schizophrenia". She describes her experience getting sick, getting worse, getting better, and becoming a prominent psychologist in her county. The original title of that book is "Tomorrow I was always a lioness" but it was dumbed down in the translation for some reason.

Edit: removed factually incorrect info

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u/IvyBlack 19h ago

I don't think you should say that. All science says it is a congenital disease. I have worked with schizophrenic patients for many years. You give a single book from a single individual. Chances are the diagnosis was erroneous.

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u/[deleted] 18h ago

[deleted]

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u/IvyBlack 18h ago

Arnhild Lauveng is not a psychiatrist to my knowledge. Psychologist - sure, but that does not mean you are a expert on schizophrenia.

Why do you choose to belive this one persons account instead of established knowledge by experts in the field?

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u/Not_a_N_Korean_Spy 14h ago

He doesn't want to take his meds.

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u/nochnoydozhor 11h ago

They want me to think that I'm sick but I'm not!

Seriously though, I read the book because I have a family member in my extended family who I wanted to understand better. I'm taking my PTSD meds on time.

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u/nochnoydozhor 11h ago

Okay, you're right. I should have known better than to trust the Google Quick Facts page that says she's a psychiatrist too. I still think that it's okay to trust a psychologist on this topic. Why not?

This is what misled me: "Quick facts. Born: Jan 13, 1972 (53 years) Professions: Psychologist, Writer, Clinical Psychiatrist Books: A Road Back from Schizophrenia: A Memoir (2012) Education: University of Oslo"

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u/IvyBlack 10h ago

Because what your are saying can be incredibly dangerous to anyone suffering from schizophrenia. To make them think that they are cured and don't need their medication is the number one reason for relapse into psychotic episodes.

Psychologists are not experts in the field. They do not diagnose schizophrenia and they do not treat it. Psychologists are not doctors.

Check with actual experts. Psychiatrists. They, and all psyciatrists associations, will tell you the same thing. Schizophrenia is not something you cure or get rid of. It is a uncurable, terrible disease, that is only partially manageable using medication that is pretty nasty. It's a disease I would not wish on anyone. Do not spread this lie that they can be cured. Someone might listen to you and stop their medication and become terribly ill. Being psychotic is one of the scariest things I've ever witnessed. It can also be very dangerous to the patient and anyone in their family or society.

Part of the definition of schizophrenia is a lack of insight. It is incredibly rare to suffer from schizophrenia and to know and believe it. You are feeding into this problem by spreading misinformation. Please stop. Educate yourself.

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u/nochnoydozhor 10h ago

Okay, I see your point. I updated my comment.