Did schizophrenia change the course of English history? The mental illness of Henry VI.
Henry VI, King of England, at age 19 founded Eton College and King's College, Cambridge. At 31 he had a sudden, dramatic mental illness in which he was mute and unresponsive. Before, he had been paranoid, grandiose, and indecisive. After, he was apathetic with deterioration of ability, drive, interest and self-care, and hallucinations and religious delusions. This illness, which is consistent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, robbed Henry of his personality, his crown, his wife, his only son, and his life. It led to three decades of brutal fighting for the crown (the 'Wars of the Roses') that resulted in a new dynasty with a dramatic impact on the country: the Tudors, Henry VIII, and Elizabeth I and their descendants. Henry's story illustrates how schizophrenia can devastate individuals and families and change the course of history and yet it raises questions about how achievement and illness are related.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA. nbark1@pol.net
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D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000266:history*; D004739:England; D005197:Famous Persons; D049668:History, 15th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000266:history*