“The Story of Ruth” by Morton Schatzman, M.D. (post 2): Ruth is talented, not crazy, and the psychiatrist is surprised to hear what she wants to be.

As I noted in the previous post, Ruth’s multiple personality was evident, but Dr. Schatzman had made no mention of it, which is not surprising, since he wrote his book prior to the publication of DSM-III (1980), the first edition of the psychiatric diagnostic manual to clearly describe the diagnostic criteria. And it was still a decade before the first modern textbook on multiple personality (Putnam, 1989).

When Dr. Schatzman finally does raise the issue of multiple personality, he does so as an aside (1, p. 168), and quickly drops it, since he is not sure of Ruth’s diagnosis, and feels that psychiatry must “await further understanding of…cases of multiple personality” (1, p. 171).

Indeed, his failure to diagnose multiple personality in this case is one reason I recommend the book. It eliminates the possibility that the doctor’s interest in multiple personality influenced the patient. Not only is Dr. Schatzman neither experienced with, nor particularly interested in, multiple personality, he never even raises the issue with his patient.

Nevertheless, much of what Dr. Schatzman does in his therapy and study of Ruth’s “apparitions” is the same as he might have done if he had known he was treating multiple personality. You can read how he helps Ruth turn her symptoms, and fears of being crazy, into a talent she is proud of, and self-understanding.

“Where do we go from here?” [Ruth asks Dr. Schatzman]…

“I’m going to write up what’s happened so far. After you and my colleagues have read it and responded to it, we’ll see.”

“It would make good material for a biography of me. I’d like to try writing one. I’ve wanted to be a writer for a long time” [Ruth says] (1, p. 284).

What a coincidence.

1. Morton Schatzman, M.D. The Story of Ruth. New York, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1980.