Elyn R. Saks, J.D.

Professor and associate dean at the University of Southern California, McArthur Foundation “genius” grant recipient:

Diagnosed with schizophrenia,continues to have “some symptoms,” has accepted her diagnosis, uses medication and has not been hospitalized since 1983. Doctors told her that she would never live independently, have a career, or get married. After her last hospitalization, her psychiatrist recommended her to try and see if she could be a part-time cashier. Instead, she returned to law school and received her J.D. from Yale. She is a distinguished professor at the University of Southern California and has received the McArthur Foundation “genius” grant. She finds a combination of medication and psychoanalysis helpful; her professional work and support of family and friends have been essential for her success. Saks describes herself as “very pro-psychiatry and very anti-force”: she thinks that psychiatric treatment is helpful, but it is wrong to use force with patients, because “not being allowed to make decisions for oneself is very degrading, painful, and disempowering.”