Starfucker

One of the best things about attending this medical meeting are the program topics. A portion of it doesn't require a medical degree to appreciate the content and indeed, some of the case studies are moving and fascinating. While I'm not a personal proponent of the old adage of "Better Living Through Pharmaceuticals" I do appreciate anyone who can overcome adversity in any respect, even if that comes at the hand of medication.

Another high point of this particular specialty are the luminaries that flock to share their story with the mental health community and/or to hawk their book on their battle with depression, bulimia, addiction or kleptomania. Every year, some glamorous type sweeps in and signs books held forth in the hands of dazzled clinicians. Sometimes these celebrities deliver the keynote address. Last year, I hung at the peripheral of a large pharmaceutical booth watching a glowing Lorraine Bracco sign autographs while extolling the virtues of some anti-depressant that had pulled her out of a slump. She was mighty glamorous and showed an awful lot of cleavage for mid-day at a psychiatry show. But no matter. She raised the standards of the joint.

This year, John Nash delivered the keynote address. John Nash is the real life professor that Russel Crowe played in the film "A Beautiful Mind." Nash himself in real life seems like a nervous professor, stiffly reading a speech that he's probably given umpteenth times since the film premiered. However, being mindful of his history and his triumph over adversity made one observe him with tolerant eyes. Tonight Brooke Shields will address an audience over the issue of post-partum depression. And today I attended a panel discussion on ECT (electric convulsive therapy or "shock therapy" a much maligned but efficacious form of treatment). The celebrity speaker was Kitty Dukakis, wife of the former presidential contender Michael Dukakis. When Miss Kitty entered the forum, she was accompanied by the former Senator. It was particularly impressive to me to stand but a few feet from a man I cast a ballot for in an election long past.

While this is impressive in its small way, the bigger show is the one outside. Scientologists swarm the event en force, protesting the presence of psychiatrists in their fair communities. Scientology is clearly at odds with the specialty and particular psychotropic medication so they are passionate in their protest--which is their right, of course. Scientology attracts some celebrity types and on occasion, you'll see a famous face in the crowd swinging a sign over their head like a lasso. Once I saw Kelly Preston who is John Travolta's wife and an actress (I hear). With a raised fist held aloft, she also waved a sign saying, "Psychiatrists Kill Children" or some such gobblygook. It makes for fascinating theater.

Hollaback Girl says I'm a starfucker. I don't know what that actually means. I do have uncanny radar for spotting famous people but I'd never approach or bother one. They're just real folk with the misfortune of fame. Still, when you get your little sightings--especially when they wander into the arena of one's professional milieu and are technically on my turf---well, what's the harm of looking?