Now, this is a subject that has interested me for some time. As many of you know, I got my B.S. in Psychology, and one of the awful, counterproductive pastimes of Psych students is to evaluate others for mental illness.

Now, I'll be the first to admit -- this is sort of like picking at the lowest hanging fruit on the tree. Glenn Beck is, undoubtedly, either A) crazy or B) shrewd as hell. The man knows how to change his positions to maximize readers/viewers, and knows how to play on the emotions and fears of others.

But what if there's an alternate pathology at work here? What if Glenn Beck's bombastic personality and behavior isn't the culmination of media-whoring and grotesque pandering, but is instead indicative of something a little further below the surface?

Of course, I don't need to go far to establish the basis of my premise. In his very first book (The Real America: Messages from the Heart and Heartland), on the second page of the damn thing, Beck has the following to say:

But this is only part of it. Beck has also expressed thoughts that he might be obsessive compulsive, and that mental illness might run in his family. Now, mental illness is hereditary. We're certain of that. So what are the chances that Glenn Beck is also mentally ill; more specifically, that Glenn Beck is a paranoid schizophrenic who needs to seek help for his mental illness?

Now, what could lead a person to suggest paranoid schizophrenia? Well, take a look at Glenn on a daily basis:



Throughout those clips, Beck displays what could classically be considered paranoia. Further, if we combine this paranoia as a symptom of something larger rather than as a diagnosis itself, we see that paranoid schizophrenia could definitely fit. After all, Beck himself admits he used to be a self-medicating alcoholic (something which is very common among schizophrenics). But let's take a look at the facts themselves. According to the handbook for psychologists, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia must progress as follows:

Two or more of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a one-month period or less if successfully treated.

A. Characteristic symptoms:
   1. Delusions – Strange beliefs such as delusions of grandeur or persecution, ideas of reference (e.g., believing that TV newscaster is delivering a secret coded message).
   2. Hallucinations – Auditory, visual, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory
   3. Disorganized speech – Frequent derailment or incoherence
   4. Grossly disorganized behavior (e.g. wearing inappropriate clothing; inappropriate affect) or catatonic behavior (rare).
   5. Negative symptoms (alogia, avolition, affective flattening).

B. Social/occupational dysfunction:
Work, social relations, or self care are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset.

C. Duration:
Continuous signs of the disturbance present for at least six months, with at least one month that meets criterion A.

D. Do not diagnose if symptoms are the result of a medical condition or pervasive developmental disorder.

E. Must rule out schizoaffective disorder and major depression.

Now, under subheading A, we see that we only need two characteristic symptoms in order to move on to the next section. But which two? I think, even based on the clip we watched above, it's safe to say that Mr. Beck experiences delusions. The idea that you are being persecuted and hunted, especially by the government, is a hallmark of paranoid schizophrenia, and truly helps to give some credence to this (amateur) diagnosis. But what other symptoms are available? Oh, how about disorganized speech.



But this is just one of Beck's many logical departures. Beck frequently displays a whiteboard or chalkboard on his show, which he uses to attempt to prove points. The arguments themselves are disjointed, illogical, and tenuous at best; at worst, they come off as flat-out nonsensical. But each is delivered with this sense of self-aware pompousness and gravitas, as if Glenn Beck is taking you by the hand and saying, Trust me, I believe this.

So Criteria A is taken care of; at the least, Beck displays these two characteristics (although arguments could be made for the others as well). Let's move on to Criteria B: interpersonal dysfunctions. Reading over Beck's employment history, it's not hard to read between the lines. Often, Beck leaves each successive career due to 'interpersonal clashes' and 'disagreements'. But the criteria is for decreased current performance... Beck hasn't done anything recently to cause a severe hit to his television program, has he? Oh wait... Beck has become increasingly unhinged, causing advertisers to leave him in droves, and causing him to search for alternate ways to make the big bucks (currently peddling gold exchange services, for instance). If this isn't a case of becoming 'markedly below what was previously achieved', I don't know what is.

So Criteria C -- for more than six months. Check! Go back and look at how long Beck has been ranting about threats against his life and a massive government conspiracy to discredit him. It'd been longer than six months, and his Criteria A symptoms have definitely been longer than a single month.

It's Criteria D and E where it gets tricky. Honestly, we can't rule out that A) Glenn Beck has some sort of physical illness which is impairing his judgment, B) he does not have a learning disability, or C) he doesn't have some other form of mental illness. He has admitted to depression in the past, which could definitely throw off Criteria E, but I feel that major depression isn't what's at work here. Glenn Beck is  likely much sicker than a depression diagnosis. Glenn Beck is probably a paranoid schizophrenic.

[Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. I am not attempting to defame Glenn Beck, simply to show how Beck's overall behavior tends to skew towards symptoms of a treatable medical diagnosis. Don't sue me.]

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