Schizophrenia is a little like that Caribbean version of the grapefruit, called, because of its outward appearance, "ugli". Inside, it is the sweetest most refreshing and ultimately satisfying taste. Schizophrenia's bizarre behavior patterns, delusions, grossly disorganized speech and behavior, and even catatonic behavior presents an ugly outside which can hide, as in John Nash's case, a "beautiful mind", capable- given proper medication so he could think- of formulating Nobel prize-winning economic and mathematical theories. The Nash pathology includes delusional and occasional catatonic behavior, even dream-like trances which differ from catatonia. Definitely, the onset and then the serious involvement of schizophrenic abnormalities.
The diagnosis, in Nash's case would be to stabilize that "beautiful mind" and create something less "ugli" for the outside. While Nash was involuntarily "observed" for some months, the fact that he left, or was released, and went to England troubles me, in the sense that he fled a circumstance and a medical condition that required constant attention, first supervision and then a handing over of control back to the subject (i.e. patient), given proper medication and counseling. Schizophrenia does not provide for "happy endings", only controllable behavior that can keep the "beautiful mind" working, even if not 100% effectively 100% of the time.
Elizabeth Wurtzel had this in common with Nash: Both fled to "alien" locations- Nash, a West Virginia native, to England, Wurtzel, an Ivy Leaguer, to Texas. Interestingly, both were highly intelligent, perhaps savants in their own way. The difference, in terms of pathology, was Wurtzel had a far earlier onset, unusual for women, where schizophrenia and clinical depression tend to "arrive" in their thirties. One can also see a difference between Wurtzel's clinical depression, where she wants to "hide," while Nash struggle
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