"Nervous Breakdown"?

This morning we discussed Paris Hilton's release from jail to house arrest for "medical" reasons.

There has been a report that the concern was a "potential for a nervous breakdown". Nervous breakdown is not a real psychiatric diagnosis, not a DSM diagnosis. It is 1950's phrasing to express anything from serious depression to psychosis to anxiety problems.

I think it is important for people to understand that a professional needs to evaluate someone to make a psychiatric diagnosis and that being very upset and stressed does not qualify. Psychiatry, like every other medical field, needs to be applied accurately and rigorously with scientific understanding as its basis. Psychiatric illness is real and can be devastating; it needs to be recognized and treated appropriately.

The reason for Paris Hilton's release is still unknown, but should it turn out to be for mental health concerns I would be concerned about a misuse of the system. Medical and psychiatric care is administered to those in jail, although the psychiatric care is likely not equivalent to what one might receive in the community, but it is present.


Please remember that when you post a comment to this blog, your comment and the name under which you submit it may be viewed by the public.

0 TrackBacks

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: "Nervous Breakdown"?.

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://gailsaltz.ivillage.com/system/mt-tb.cgi/4956

28 Comments

Pat Gaddess said:

You should look at an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on Thursday. A young woman was arrested on a traffic warrant, the papers for her release were misfiled and she died of an asthma attack in jail. This is the real world not the world of Paris Hilton.

Angie said:

Since when is being a rich socialite a medical condition?

Angela M said:

I bet she is getting stressed out but so are thousands of other inmates, should we let all of them out?

Laylah B said:

A fairly high proportion of the prison population--in excess of 30%--is said to have a mental disorder, including very real and devastating mental illnesses. I found it interesting that Hilton's "mental illness" was not presented in earlier court appearances, nor was the fact that she was "on medication" disclosed to Sheriff Lee Baca and his staff prior to and during her brief incarceration. If she was in fact being treated with medication for a real, previously diagnosed condition, it would have been irresponsible for those around her to not provide her with the required medication. Her personal psychiatrist, who visited Hilton daily while she was at Lynwood, might be held accountable for her "rapid deterioration" if he was not providing her with proper care and medication.

Lonewolf said:

Oh, PLEASE... Miss P has been drinking her ass off over AND indulging in "other" questionable illegal substances last few year If she is “under medication” it’s those "illegals” she normally takes recreationally, only thing now is she can't SELF-medicate whenever her DUMB-spoiled ass wants to. Her SPOILED ASS is in the RIGHT place...Only problem, is that her STUPID ASS mother should be in the cell down the hall for raising such a RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL, ARROGANT and UGLY person... instead of helping her daughter she encourages her inappropriate behavior and thinks it’s cute... She shoulda taught her what “consequences” are… Both mother and daughter look like FOOLS they she BOTH be Ashamed! By the way is the father "mute" he hardly ever says a word... what a pathetic man and family!.... wife is an idiot, daughters arrogant/rude, alcoholic whores w/multiple STDs, etc. What a SAD and PATHETIC example of family. It’s time for EVERYONE to just IGNORE these miserable people.

maria said:

WHAT SHE NEED IS "god" TO HELP HER....

manbon said:

lonewolf's comments right on the ball. She belongs where she is. I notice that the hollywood community is'nt siding with her, since they all feel she is a spoiled brat

bob bruman said:

It annoys me how unfair the legal system is. It is designed to favor the wealthy. In this case (with Paris Hilton) my daughter was highly angered. She was furious to hear of her release. Sighting a similar case of a friend who was poor and who was in jail for the same reason...not only was she not able to get out but when her mother died six days before she was due to be released, she could not get out to even go to her mother's funeral! Why should we the public favor the wealthy when they drive drunk? Can’t they afford a limo and a driver? There is no excuse to drive drunk for anyone. What if she would have killed another would we be so readily to forgive? Paris needs to have her behavior checked and it that rattles her nerves well that is a small price to pay! She could have killed my grandson, or daughter or me. Now she wants to cry and be all upset instead of taking responsibility? I say grow up Paris and I say to the media quit giving her so much attention until she does! The Gay Grandpa.

Vicki said:

What is this all teaching our children? That it is ok to go out and drink and drive and loose your licence and only get 45 days in jail? Where did this judge pull this sentence out of? Not the judicial system sentences. Any other person not a celebrity would be in prison for 5 to 10 years. This just goes to show you money talks.

Mary Martin said:

I think she sould serve her term but I also think that she and all other inmates should have a privacy screen for the toilet area.

Laurie said:

I am with reasonable certainy that Paris Hilton is probably deep in the thrawls of detox from either drugs, alcohol or both at this very moment of this posting.
Hopefully the LA Twin Towers medical staff have provided for very close monitoring as the DTs and halluncations. IV sedation/hydration will probably be needed at sometime. The reported hallucations of web cams in the toilet in Paris's private medical jail cell have caused her to stop eating or drinking anything.
With whatever psychoactive meds she has agreed to all will eventually take it toll -along with the detoxing-on her liver and kidneys, PH will be soon become medically fragile and then liability issues will surface. When will her private shrink recommend that PH get some hydration and get a court order if needed to prevent PH from possible perment health damage and monitery liability for the LA TT medical staff? What about that cardinal rule of caring for a person being a danger to himself or gravely disabled? What are your thoughts?

Jan said:

Let her stay put. She's where she needs to be. lesson is, money can't buy everything all the time.

Suzie said:

I think we are far too obsessed with the behavior of stars. Paris doesn't know any better, she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and that's not her fault. Granted, she obviously thinks that she is a little hot number, I never realized heiresses had fans- but I think she is a very insecure, immature little girl inside. I hope she makes it through her jail sentence, I'm surprised that the other jail servers have not chewed her up and spit her out. The bottom line is that Paris did what millions of regular people do all the time, and I think the Judge made an example of her. My ex had 3 dui's, and spent 5 days in jail. Paris is not a topic of my daily routine, but as a mom, I feel sorry for her.Hopefully she'll pull her head out, and do something good with her life.

DOMINICIAN MONASTERY

1310 WEST CHURCH STREET

ELMIRA,NY14905-1998

1-607-734-9506

8TH CENTENARY AND 63RD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

AUGUST 16,2007

MASS AT 11:00AM

NAME__________________

PS=TRY TO BRING A DONATION ALBEIT NOT REQUIRED

I ACCEPT_________(NO. OF PERSONS)

R.S.V.P. AUGUST1,2007
Here is an INVITATION to a GreateventOfGodliness.I love Hieress and ULTIMATE DEGREEMY SIMPATHY she has because AUTHORITIES(GOOD)versus Authorities(Evil).

No comment said:

Who cares about Paris Hilton's, mental stress and emotions. Since when does prisons release someone for mental health reasons. Then that means my family members that have ever commited a crime should be set free, right? Paris had many DUI's, she really could have killed someone, then what i'm sick, i can't eat, so the hell what. Money is Power, this is wrong.So Paris is wanting to do things for others know huh, great she should have been doing that in the beginning. She's a mess. The law is wrong and not equal. So stars get the upper hand now. Millions and millions of people are in jail, i'm pretty sure their crying and cold. but are they getting butler treatment? No. Let her ass freeze for all i care.Paris is no better than the next person.Oh and as far as her sister & boyfriend getting to cut people in line to see Paris, thats just crazy. 40 days wippie. People are truely crazy with the star life. They should get the same treatment as other us citizens, because they have money that makes it better.Please.

No comment said:

Paris was put on house arrest right, sent home with an ankle bracelet, who's dumb ass released her to her mansion thats suppose to confine .She's got a tennis court for her bedroom and probabley even a club in the house with alchol.gym etc. Does that make any sense she still can have fun and party. Who ever sent her home should be truely punished and they should do some time because that is not right at all. just because she is trying to change does not excuse her for the wrong she has done. So i'm sorry she isn't eating filet mignon. you eat what everyone else eats and you were what ever everyone else where's.She deserves no personal treament. many people die in jail, have medical problems, why is her story being treated so special. i'm not amazed with the law i'm disappointed, because you can't even trust the law know a days.she's a pitty. She deserves every bit that she gets because she didn't and does not have to work like us citizens. Everything was given. And when it's given to you, you'll never learn.

Joanne said:

I agree with Lonewolf....what a disgrace that we are even spending so much time and energy with this rediculous story...her parents are to blame...they are a mess....she has no clue about the real world...she claims that she has found "God"....(in the last 3 days)...maybe if she had God in her life things would be different...wait until she gets out....things will be just the same...the only difference will be that
this spoiled brat will have a driver....

Cheryl, in MA said:

I hear her sentence is now down to 16 days, for "GOOD BEHAVIOR"? Not eating, not drinking, screaming & carrying on "It's not fair", refusing to wear an orange jumpsuit...This is all considered "GOOD BEHAVIOR"??? Any other inmate would probably have time tacked on by now, but her sentence seems to get less & less time each day! How is this "FAIR" treatment? Unfortunately for Paris this whole experience is a wake up call to the "real world" in which the rest of us live. We can only hope that she really is a "changed" person when she gets out. Sadly, her parents have let her come & go and do as she pleases all these years. By her display of emotions, they have truly done her a huge dis-service in how to deal with life. Doesn't look like her mom has changed at all from this experience either, since she is bad mouthing judges, and speaking out in the media. So I'm not so sure that Paris will "change" when she does get out in what is it today...14 days? 13 days? or maybe 12 days now?!!

Brad said:

I swear, this is nothing more than a lynch-mob...

Old Bald Guy said:

Cheryl: "good behavior" applies only to how Paris acts while incarcerated, and it simply means that she complied with the rules while she was there and she's rewarded by having time knocked off her sentence.

Unfortunately, I doubt she or her parents have the slightest idea what "good behavior" on the outside entails.

I believe Paris' "mental condition" is brought on by a sudden influx of what we, in layman's terms, refer to as "reality," an experience which she is poorly equipped to handle. This is likely the very first time she's ever been punished for anything, and I think it's about time.

A Good Parent said:

This is all about seed time & harvest. Paris' mom & dad sowed bad seed while she was being raised ( or was she), and now they are finally reaping their harvest. How proud they must be! Good parenting is the toughest job in the world (notice I said "good" parenting). A parent is not there to be a child's best friend. A parent is there to guide and nurture that child........even if it's not popular at the time. I feel sorry for the Hiltons........the damage is already done.

Helen said:

The sheriff that released inmate PHilton should have sent her to the psych ward for a 72-hour eval. If she refused food and water, they have straight jackets and an IV available for nutrition, hydration and any prescribed meds. She should not be allowed visitors until she cleans up her act. When she is release, I think that probation is in order - preferrably at a boot camp for several months, away from friends and relatives.

The parents should be checked into the Dr. Phil house and be required to take some 500 hours of parenting classes. And interaction classes to learn to say NO to the remaining daughter before she ends up like the older sibling.

This is truly a family in dier need of help.

Judy said:

I feel that Paris needs to stay where she is right now. The medical staff at the jail will take good care of her. As for her display in court, it only shows how immature she is. A 3-year old acts that way not a young womwn her age. hopefully her family will continue her treatment and insist she get a "real" job, perhaps in a detox facility wher she'll see where she will end up if she doesn't fly right.

CAM/BOISE said:

WHO GIVES A SHIT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND THAT IS HOW IT IS HERE IN THE US of A. WE SHOULD ALL KNOW THAT BY NOW. SHE IS A CRY ASS THOUGH!

G Sanger said:

The media is giving Paris Hilton's antics such prominent air play that girls get the idea that she sets the standard of behavior. Parents who point out that this is not the case are told that everybody's parents are allowing their kids to max out credit cards, buying expensive shoes, bags, clothes, jewelry, limo rides, ski trips etc. etc. etc.

Besides blatant materialism, Paris Hilton (with a big dose of help from the media) leads teens to believe that crashing into cars while drunk is something to laugh about.

Hilton put on a sympathetic face for 2 minutes following Katrina as she announced that she would do her part by building a home for children in New Orleans. As it never developed, Hilton added lying to the list of attributes emulated by the impressionable. She appears to be relying on the "children's home" line again.

Why must this individual be placed before the eyes of our kids at every turn? Wouldn't true journalists dig deeper and find positive role models to feature in the news?

horribly ashamed of everyone said:

oh shut up. Everyone who is saying that Paris Hilton is getting special treatment is only half right.
1. there are hundreds maby even thousands of drunk drivers every year that don't get "made examples of" because they are not famous.
2. Now that she is in jail she is being very well taken care of because the world is watching.
If people like you....and (Sigh) I stop paying such close attention to that family, they would get treated just like every criminal with good legal representation. She would get a slap on the wrist until she killed someone.
STOP COMPLAINING that you are keeping this circus going.

Seer_of_Both_sides(:-)) said:

Mr/Ms. "oh shut up" has a good pragmatic point. Any system under the spot light tends to behave more "appropriately". And the reason the legal system gets under the spot light is not anyone other that the audience who support it in the first place.

In this spirit the rest of the "complainers" are also correct that the system should not give wealthy people special rights. This is since any system of the legal kind is supposed to be aware that they may have to handle all sorts of, wealthy or otherwise, people. How come they are giving in to the psychology(pressure) of the spot-lights?

If you accept both then maybe a solution is possible. Otherwise it's just throwing of the ball from one court to another.

Chao.

Bruce said:

Hysteria is not diagnosed anymore.

Bruce

Leave a comment


Type the characters you see in the picture above.

About Me

Psychiatrist, author and Today show contributor Gail Saltz shares what's on her mind and helps explain what's on yours.

Disclaimer
This Blog is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health, please consult your family’s health provider or go to the emergency room.

close

RSS

Archives