Would love to see you do more ER- especially Sally Fields' arcs as Abby's mother who I believe is bipolar.

You are awesome. Not only that you do a great work against stigma by teaching about different mental illnesses, but also how well you explain all the reactions. All of this is just so good for everyone.

I remember when this episode aired. I was devastated.

I think ER always found the right balance between medical accuracy and some embelishment for entertainment factor, which you have to accept. The doctor that had to handover (Dr Weaver) was actually a very grounded character and her character was that of the rational anaalyst/able to reflect, so very on-chracter for her to realise she was affected, it was going to affect her care of the patient and getting a colleague to take over, was rational.

I experienced psychosis due to a medication reaction(though Im bipolar and have experienced it before, just differently). I was convinced there was a man in my basment and he was a threat. It was so convincing. I woud get terrified just being on the main floor of the house, because it was close to the basement. After ending the medication, it subsided. Its amazing how completly you believe something so clearly false.... thanks for doing this episode

I like ER, and I too think it's still one of the best hospital series out there. (Well, I love MASH even more, but that one isn't even really about medicine as much.) And although this episode is great storytelling and acting, it's really sad that so often psychiatric patients are used as a plot device rather than people. A good rule of thumb to me is always: do the writers extend the patient - or the outsider, let's say an LGBTQ person, or a non-native, whatever - as much dignity and empathy as they do the main characters? In this case I find it to be grey area. They do show compassion towards the patient, but he still is only used to move the plot forward and is pretty much an instrument in the character arch for the main characters. On top of that, they fall into the "mental patient = agressive" stereotype, which is as you mention not only undeserved, but also can be dangerous for psychiatric patients. They are much more at risk of becoming a _victim_ than they are of being the agressor. People believing that they are dangerous only increases the danger towards them, as people feel justified to use more aggresive means to 'deal with' them (e.g. police violence towards anyone they perceive to be a psychiatric patient).

Paul actually returned several years later again as a patient with a nasty cut on his foot. The staff instantly recognized him and fully restrained him to the bed although physically not medically. Paul also badly shocked Dr carter to the point of flashbacks and ptsd. Paul was still slightly psychotic but mostly intact mentally although the dog and going home thing was still there. He actually went to a mental hospital for the entire time and was on conditional release slowly coming back from the brink. We never saw Paul again after that. The actor who played Paul actually got the lead in the num3ers (numbers) series about a FBI mathematician helping solve cases. He was only hired to do those two appearances.

Haven't watched that episode since it aired and that scene with Carter saying "Lucy is dead" brought back all the tears from that episode. That episode changed Carter, and even Romano, for the rest of the series.

I remember seeing this episode when it first aired and it was so devastating. You were right about Carter’s recovery being impacted by a lot of guilt 😓

Im 36 years old, and I remember this episode. It was such a punch in the heart. Dr Elliot is right, this show was the best medical drama, it didnt pull any punches and you never saw it comming.

I get sad as soon as this episode starts, knowing how it ends 😭

I love ER! Definitely one of my all time favorite TV series. I learned so much about compassion, caring for others, and not judging books by their covers from this series.

Thank you so much for reacting to this amazing 2-part episode, best episode of the series lol... I've always been SUCH a big fan of ER and thought they handled the schizophrenia in a really intriguing and pretty sympathetic way. Thanks for the explanation at the end of why you didn't show pretty much any of the injured Lucy, I was a little confused until you explained in the last moment of the video lol. Like you said, Luka Kovač (one of my favorite characters) was so compassionate in talking to the patient's wife about how he needs help and it's better to find him now before he hurts himself or more people. It's a shame it implied violence is such a high risk for any patient with psychosis, like by default being in restraints being implied to be reasonable or fair when it's not... but I feel like overall the show avoided dehumanizing the perpetrator of the violence and still treated mental illness like it is indeed an illness, and even addressed how it's treatable. I loved how you also addressed the true statistics of how violence is indeed a higher risk in patients with untreated psychosis and didn't act like it isn't, even if it's a low risk generally it's still somewhat higher. I really appreciated your honesty around that. Personally, I have very complex thoughts around violence and mental health because as much as people may like to say most violence is perpetrated by people without mental illness, I think so much mental illness is undiagnosed, or even if it doesn't rise to official illness status, people basically have untreated mental health struggles of some kind to lead them to be abusive, violent, etc in almost all cases of abuse and violence. I wish everyone could get the help they need to not be unecessarily triggered into the fight of fight or flight mode and hurt others in the process. I wish you'd also react to the season 8 episode when this psychotic patient, Paul Sobriki, returns to the show, to wrap up this analysis of how the show handled his schizophrenia & psychosis & the violence too. The episode when he returns, 8x11 "Beyond Repair", is also a good episode for addressing addiction in some of the main characters. It's one where a main character who has an alcohol problem starts drinking again. I love how you also took a moment to address the trauma of the colleagues of the injured doctor and medical student and how they are in fight or flight mode to explain their fighting and blaming each other. And Kerry Weaver needing to hand off the patient to another doctor because she's self aware enough to know she can't handle it, and to handle her overwhelming emotional response quite professionally. And even addressing the risk of burnout in going right back to work without a chance for processing the trauma of the previous shift lol... I loved your reaction to all that stuff too.

I've watched and been fascinated by your videos for a long time, but I think this is truly one of your best. The way you explain, without blame (and with such empathy and clarity) the very frightening place that is psychosis, is a much needed thing. Especially regarding rates of violence in an individual with a mental health issue, being much lower than society would have us believe. The stigma is still very real, and a voice that speaks out against that, is so vital. As someone who has experienced a (post-general anaesthetic) bout of delirium/psychosis, yet wouldn't hurt a fly when in her 'right mind', the utter terror and altered mindscape is something I could never explain to, or wish on anyone. The way you speak and explain it, is actually very soothing and reassuring, to someone who's been through it, of a sort. I think you're a true credit to your profession, and thank you so much for videos like this. ❤️

This was the culmination of the Carter Lucy nonrelationship and it ended in disaster . Lucy being booksmart and struggling with procedures while Carter as a student was the opposite , great with procedures but not so good with the book learning . And when he didn't get the perfect show off student with Lucy he just couldn't be bothered with her .

When you were describing schizophrenia each sentence was like "oh shit" and then I remembered I was spending 60 hours on school a week plus a part time job. Since the semester ended I've had no problems with those things except the short term memory. Maybe I should bring this up to my therapist

exacto el mejor programa/serie que pudo existir ER, aun ahora sigo mirando los capitulos. Gracias por la reaccion!

I didn’t specialise in psychiatry, even though I love it, because I saw the compassion fatigue & jaded attitude towards suffering inpatient MH nurses often sadly develop. I know the violence is a part of that. But I can meet my A&E psych patients with compassion & without wariness they haven’t earned because they’re spaced in between acute medical/surgical patients. It’s no lie that the intoxicated folks are much more violent!! Your relentless empathy for patients (even fictional ones) with the most stigmatised MH conditions is so gratifying to see. I’m glad you’re in the field you are & putting a kind public face on psychiatry. Just wanted to say: I appreciate the content you make so much.

That was such an amazing episode. I love ER. And even though like you said, violence by these kinds of patients is rare in real life, I thought the show dealt really well and realistically with how they portrayed all the characters and their reactions, etc

Thank you for your videos, Dr. Carthy. You clearly put significant compassion and thoughtfulness in them. This brightened my day. David Krumholtz played this so brilliantly. I love him. I love ER, though I am sad a bit about the stereotypes TV perpetuates about mental illness, but it does have to be good tv (wish they'd had a line like "patients like Paul very rarely commit violence" or similar, though). There's a sweet little ER episode where a patient associates colours with good and bad experiences and will only go into rooms painted the good colours, it's very nice, and it's not high drama, but it shows how listening and care mean the world to patients. It's maybe S1 E13?

This is such a mind trip for me, we used to watch ER when I was a kid and I evidently still remember a bunch of these characters and storylines?!? Love Kelly Martin. 💔

Thank you! I don’t see many others discussing ER and I was so hoping to find discussion of this 2-parter.

I remember watching this episode when it first aired and it was a real sucker punch. Wow. Thanks as always for your insightful and compassionate breakdown.

Hard to believe these episodes aired 22 years ago! I’m sure that much of the thinking and medicine around mental health issues have changed since the 90s but needless to say these episodes were a highlight, if not a shocking one, of the entire series. Great video

I'm a big ER fan, and I found this an insightful analysis of the episode. I'm a new subscriber to your channel, enjoying your content very much. 🙂

They should not be speaking to him without a lawyer. He is facing potential criminal prosecution and they are interrogating him without counsel and without reading him his rights. This is unlawful.

Listening to you listing to all our darting drugs (I'm a vet) in the context of a human was quite amusing. Another great episode!

Brilliant explanations, really accessible and eloquently conveyed. You are so fabulous my friend. Love ❤️

I have every series of ER on DVD. I can see them lined up on my shelf from where I’m sat watching this 😌 they’re all different colours and look very pretty 🥰

It would be interesting to see you react to the episode where this patient shows up agian. Season 8, Episode 11. It has more about the treatment of his disorder and how it effects the consecvenses of his actions.

Got a new subscriber. I always loved ER! This episode was a tissue box full!

You know every single example of schizophrenia or psychosis that's portrayed in movies and tv shows never seem to display word salad or any kind of flight of ideas. It's always the same 3 symptoms. Paranoia, hallucinations and delusions...

Comes late but thank you for the video! My co-worker got a schizophrenia diagnose some time ago and video explained a lot. I met her originslly when she was some 20+ and in college. At that time I was thinking she only had "unique personality" but she came to the same workplace I started thinking that something is off. She told all kinds of stories which no way couldn't be true (like she is dating with well-known athlete but couldn't show any photos etc. When this athlete actually married it was terrible stress and she was about to call to the press that he is dating with her and they are in love). She didn't come to work on one day. Then when she came back about 3 months later she told she had been in a hospital. Now she is out and I so hope she takes care of herself.

can you do some more episodes reacting to ER? love this show and your channel!

I loved ER. I watched it while it aired, yes I was only 10 in 1995 but my parents didn’t seem to mind my sister and I watching this, and I recently during the pandemic rewatched it. Great video!! Of course, I love all your videos so maybe I’m just biased at this point.

New subscriber cause ER is one of my all-time favourite shows! I agree that they didn't handle this well, but I also think this has a lot to do with the age of the show. Mental illness was still considered taboo back in the 90's and I think if the show was written today, it would be handled differently (and better!).

5:04 you just described everyday life lol

i'd really be interested in what you have to say about ian gallagher's bipolar disorder in shameless US if thats something you would want to react to!!

My dad had psychosis when I was 12, and severe depression due to the medication, and he still needs to take medication otherwise it would get bad again. He was not violent. But he was talking about wanting to end his life and had to go to the hospital once because he overdosed on some medication. The delusions at the beginning were still disturbing me. My dad was talking a lot of nonsense about math and philosophy, and he thought the phones were bugged and that he was being watched through the computer. And my grandma's old neighbor probably had schizophrenia. For as long as I can remember he was weird. He would sit next to his clothes dryer outside and watch his underpants drying because he was scared someone would steal them. Then one day it just became fully blown visual hallucinations. He would see people sitting in his car, he would call the police in the night claiming there were young people in his house having a party. He was also not endangering anyone really, but started to shout at his hallucinations at night and things like that and annoy the whole neighborhood.

Thanks for posting! I LOVE your videos, and would love to hear your take on The Last Man on Earth (2015-2018, a comedy starring Will Forte, Kristen Schaal, and others). The premise is a virus wipes out (virtually) everybody on earth. In season 3, a story arc follows a character descending into mental illness. The main episode where the characters try to discover how to help her is season 3, episode 13, where they discover she had been taking a mysterious psychiatric pill prior to the apocalypse. I really enjoyed this series, but often wonder in hindsight if the portrayal in this situation was accurate, or if it was a lazy plot point.

ER is such a great show, and at the same time so painful to watch so many times... I don't think I could rewatch it.

Would be interesting to see your reaction to an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Body". One of the characters dies and the episode shows how all of the other characters deal with that death.

I find the topic of psychosis and other symptoms like it on one hand fascinating and also terrifying. Cause, sure, its unlikely to happen if youre not prone to it.. But it might happen. You might see things, that aren't there, hear or believe things that aren't true. But for YOU they are real and fact, even though they aren't grounded in reality. A break from reality, but from the view of the experiencer, its as real as the warm sunlight outside. I hope we find a treatment one day, that hinders all symptoms life long, without side effects. edit: for the case "it is rare". People who were in an induced coma for a while, may also experience a form of psychosis for some time (coming down from the anesthesia). This may even last for a day or two.

I'm a bit tired so it took me a few minutes to realize what the significance of the blue cake stuff was about. Guy saw people partying and having a knife around, and that made him think they were celebrating how they were going to take his organs or something? Wild, and absolutely terrifying for a patient in that position who believes that.

I remember watching this episode for the first time on a rerun when I was around 12 ish and being so absolutely shocked by the last scene (Lucy in a pool of her own blood) this was before Grey's Anatomy and I didn't know you could kill the doctors on tv

Hello Elliott! Awesome work as per usual, slightly left of field option but could you possibly watch/cover the Psychosis and Me documentary by David Harewood? Really fascinating look into his personal experience, his book is also excellent for anyone interested :)

I love ER, I would love to see your reaction to Sally Fields recurring guest role as Abby Lockhart’s bipolar mother. Episodes Series 7 episodes 6, 8 and 19 specifically!

Can you please do ‘A horse walks into Rehab’ and ‘The view from halfway down’. - from Bojack Horseman. They are both incredible episodes depicting therapy and mental health!!

One of the most painful episodes of this tv show.

does anyone know how or through which channels we can recommend a specific video for dr Carthy to react to? there is this one perticular video by aba and preach here on youtube " do we actually want vulnerable men?' it contains an interesting discussion on how vulnerability in men is seen by society as a whole, and women in a romantic relationship specifically is it seen as weakness, contrasted with "men can't be emotionally open and share" etc it was a decent video with a lot of food for thought, but as a qualified professional i think the doctors insights would be even beter. fyi aba and preach is comedy/commentary focussed channel

I spent this whole video trying to work out where I recognised the actor who plays the patient from (he was the elf Bernard in The Santa Clause)

Doctor Carthy, I would really like to see a video of your opinion on the American serial killer, David Berkowitz, also known as Son of Sam. I think he's malingering, but a lot of my friends think he's not. There are news reports that claim there is no way they would ever let him be found incompetent to stand trial or enter an insanity plea because he killed too many people. Could you put this issue to rest for us, please? I don't think there is anyone better suited for this task. Love your videos and will be looking forward to the next one, even if it's not about Berkowitz.

Hello Doctor. I have a question: when the patient was expressing concern about people in the bushes following the muggings, how could you tell it was paranoia and not hypervigilance?

your videos are so cool they are very interesting great content

Love ya too, Dr Elliot - you’re my favourite psychiatrist (except my own one of course, who you remind me of, without the English accent)

psychosis is something that really fascinated me. i’m a very logical person and the fact that our brain can get into a state where it makes us believe completely illogical concepts and theories, without realizing it happening is…yeah fascinating

They diagnosed me with toxic psicosis / but my paranoia was actually based in reality also (I was weary they could poison me) from comments I heard of people I was friends with, and we started to not get well with each other, and I heard them mention forms of vengeance etc (like what they saw from prisions where they put pieces of small glass into salads) of course my parents didn’t want to do harm to me but I expressed I was scared when I got food brought to me (and my father/mother sometimes unwillingly brought me spoiled food) and I said it. As I was really addicted to scapism tendencies and being quite aggresive and defensive they asked for a forced mental health hospital from a judge. So police came for me I asked if my parents were ok (I imagined the possibility of them being in an accident to give an explanation to why they came to my home) and since 2016 I don’t even smoke tobacco anymore. I’ve asked my family doctor to provide me a psichologist to treat vertigo and claustrophobia etc since an accident I had with the bike where two cars ran over a red light and hit me. I was 1 year off work. Time for some voluntary exposure to fears. Paranoia is just an extreme amount of fear. Worry being a lesser amount of it, everything in moderation.

A+ Doctor!

I am glad you were careful not to over stigmatize people with mental illness while still accepting the reality that something like is depicted in the show COULD be a possibility.

Can you look at Beautiful Boy? It's a beautiful film based on a true story of an addict. I'd love to see you react to that :)

Regarding psychosis and violence. Part of our job as psychiatrists is to determine whether the act of violence was due to psychosis or if it was behavioral in nature. Psychosis will not absolve people of their actions if they are congruent with their non-psychotic baseline

Lucy 😭 These were sad couple of episodes. and the way they made us think she'll recover, for 10 minutes. The writers were crueler than the stabber😁

Reaction recommendations is (US) Shameless series. *Sheila Jackson and her agoraphobia *Monica Gallagher and her bi-polar (CW a very triggering suicide attempt episide) *Ian Gallagher and his bi-polar *Frank Gallagher and his pathological lying, addiction *Bianca Samson and dealing with terminal cancer.

I’ll admit that I was momentarily distracted watching this post. As I recognised the actor playing the patient Paul Sobriki in this episode of E.R. This actor also played the character Charlie Eppes in the TV show Numb3rs … I’m sorry, I’ll try not to get distracted again……. ⚛️☮️🌏

Noooooo Lucy’s death still haunts me it was so sad

My mother was bipolar and schizophrenic, she was in a state of psychosis for most of my childhood and was VERY physically, mentally, and emotionally abusive….I won the worlds worst lottery lmao 🤣

You should react to arcane particularly jinx

I love ER but season 6 is when it goes down in quality unfortunately. Would love to see you react to something from the first 5 seasons (though I can remember any specific psych plots). Something interesting about this patient is he's seen again a year later. I forget why he's in hospital but he's stable and well mentally in the episode.

I’m watching this during breaks in the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert. How much do you know about addiction?

I hate this episode so much. Lucy died and Carter ended up addicted to painkillers.

Hi Dr Carthy! Please can you do a reaction to the film Surge?…it stars Ben Whishaw 😊

And this guy actually treats people with mental illness? That's scary as hell smdh.

Omg! Paris!! Hahaha awwwh

You should react to Cobra Kai. That series has a lot of psychological topics it’s a very popular series.

Have you seen/heard about JK Rowling’s new book? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on why people are transphobic and why they refuse to change and dig down instead?

Oh and your accent!

Hasn't Paris been to med school? 😆

react to chicago med

Hi Thanks so much 💖 I l💖ve er Was wondering if you could react or if seem these movies/tv show Netflix Its ok not be ok Bangkok loves stores : objects of effection Other movies Blind alley and the dark past similar movie different ending Movies about police psychiatrist Shutter Island Tv show Growing pains Last episode of m a s h Thanks again for your reacting movies/tv 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

When this episode aired, the general public was just starting to talk and learn about mental illness. All the facts you’re sharing was not available back then.

Don't like his take on restraining the person just BECAUSE he has a mantel illness. No not just that reason this guy was completely out of it that times and as he said they are 5 to 6 times more likely to commit a violent crime.

You might be a doctor but I can't take you seriously. He got in to a physical altercation, the question why wasn't he in restraints when he presented as someone who was mentally ill is valid.

Why they gotta make the patient so hot tho

Dr. Elliot, I love your face, what should I do?

*bangs fist on table* LOOK AT SEX EDUCATION

Boy, the terminology you use about delusions are close to attacking religion.