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Article: From Psychosis to 'Genius': MacArthur Names 24 Grantees
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 22, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Washington Post. This material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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During her seventh week at Yale Law School, Elyn Saks had a very
public psychotic breakdown on a rooftop outside the law library. She
was singing, and her classmates were clustered around nervously.
"I thought there were beings in the sky controlling my brain,"
recalls Saks, now 53.
After her first major schizophrenic episode at age 18, Saks was
told she'd never be able to work and live on her own. But thanks to
psychotherapy, medication, friends, family and a great deal of
personal resolve, she became a mental health lawyer and a dean at
the University of Southern California Law School.
And now she is one of this year's 24-person crop of MacArthur
Fellows, each of whom will receive ...