Crazy All the Time On the Psych Ward of Bellevue Hospital

by Frederick L. Covan, Carol Kahn

In CRAZY ALL THE TIME, Frederick L. Covan, Ph.D., chief psychologist at Bellevue Hospital, takes you behind the gates and into the psych ward of one of the world's most famous mental institutions. With razor-sharp insight and great compassion, Covan follows the lives of a group of young interns and the unforgettable patients they are committed to serve, including Brenda, a paranoid schizophrenic who claims she has slept with six presidents; Matthew, a silent, tormented young man who cut off his own penis with a pair of pinking shears; and Gloria, a severely depressed dermatologist with a panic reaction to the sight of skin.
Balancing the delicate line between normalcy and pathology, theory and reality, CRAZY ALL THE TIME explores the dark moods and outrageous behaviors of both doctors and patients in a place where madness reigns and disorder is the order of the day.
"A wonderful book . . . Superbly written . . . Nothing short of perfect." -- Los Angeles Times Book Review

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Medical, Mental Illness, Memoir, Medicine

275 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thought-provoking and amusing memoir full of interesting and often wildly funny stories (albeit usually in a laugh-to-keep-from-crying way). The author gives insight not only into the patients but into the trainee therapists and the process of therapy itself. I really enjoyed this and found myself reading parts out loud to friends. I'm just glad my life isn't like the people's in this book!

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Turns out that living through the internship was enough, and that I didn't really need to relive it in the pages of a book!

[Shay Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Covan is chief psychologist at Bellevue Hospital in New York (or was at the time of this book's publication) and with help from Carol Kahn, he has written a highly entertaining account of one year's crop of interns and some of the patients they encounter and try to help.

There is Kitty, whose paranoid schizophrenic patient spins tales of having slept with six presidents of the United States. This is perhaps not as challenging as Kitty's marriage, in which her husband expects her to come home and cook and clean for him.

We meet Nick, the son of artists, who wears an earring and a ponytail, who must try to convince a woman that there is still a reason to live after having contracted AIDS from her husband.

Then there is Garrison, the son of a famous psychiatrist, whose female patient, a dermatologist, complains of having panic attacks at the sight of skin, and then announces that she and her therapist are in love and that she is carrying their baby. Her swelling belly and starry eyes say so, but Garrison swears it's impossible.

Finally, there is Wayne, an academic nerd accepted for an internship primarily on his research skills. His first patient is a statuesque, raven-haired, traffic-stopping beauty who wants to drop out of college, where she has become aimless and depressed, and become a call girl. Wayne, who has fallen in love with his patient, has to first get a grip on himself, and then help her to reveal the devastating secret from her past that has been haunting her. This was my favorite part of the book.

Crazy All The Time is fast-paced, fascinating reading designed for a lay audience. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in medical subjects or simply human drama.

[Wendy's Wanderings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book. I wouldn't mind seeing more from the author. I am sure he has many more good stories. The book follows interns as they are learning how to deal with patients with psychiatric issues. I love reading about how the interns attempt to deal with the problems. They don't always get the results they want, but Dr. Covan directs them to use different approaches which usually yield better results.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes when you see a movie or read a book that is so inspiring that you want to run out and go back to school and do something different with your life?? This is one of those kind of books. Funny, scary, heartwarming, heartbreaking, ...........it has it all. Very thought provoking.

[Marion Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had had this book on my "to read" list for a long time. I finally picked it up, and went through it in about 3 days.

The book, which takes place in the early 90's is told by a psychologist, who is supervising a number of interns, who each have their own story, and journey, and are matched with patients who come in with a variety of symptoms, problems and labels.

There is a wonderful mix of empathy, wisdom and humor, and the writing really flows. I worked in healthcare in the 90's and so reading about the financial pressures of the time is part of the narrative of healthcare in America.

I hope that there are still people as thoughtful, creative and talented working at Bellevue today, because I can only imagine that there are 4 times as many cases coming in as there were, then.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating reading for anyone interested in psychological case studies. Well written and easy to understand, like the author is telling a story, or several stories. He isn't afraid to admit that he continues to learn with each subject. "The older I get, the more I think that 'normal' describes an arbitrary segment of the continuum of human behavior from the Charles Mansons to the Mother Teresas." the cases cover sexual deviancy, addiction, homosexuality, cultural differences, as well as personal mental conditions specified in the then current DSM. I'd like to see if Covan has written anything since.

[Amber Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir written by Dr. Covan follows his many interns over the course of a year. While it's a memoir it reads as a novel and was fast paced with many odd and interesting patient stories. I felt as if it was written in such a way that you could actually connect with both the interns and patients. Humor was thrown into the mix in a nice way after certain stories left you feeling a little glum. A very interesting read about life working at Bellevue in the 80's.

[Dawn Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much talk about the author and too little talk about cases. Also the author comes off as an annoying know it all

[Debby Eisemann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I had higher expectations for this book. It was OK but I just could not fully get into it.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Cecilia Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not to downplay the seriousness (and abhorrence) of some of the cases dealt with in this book but honestly, it begins with a case of self-mutilation of the 'let's cut off my penis with pinking shears' variety (yes, I googled pinking shears - happy?), and moves along to cases of hysterical pregnancy, PTSD, transference, counter-transference, cannibalism, shrinks trying to justify sex with patients as therapeutic, shrinks trying to claim that the urge to commit parricide is 'universal'. I think that covers everything you really want to be voyeuristically reading about really.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tales from the halls of the Bellevue Psych ward. I am filled with admiration for the people who can think quickly on their feet, maintain their own emotions, and respond appropriately to truly bizarre behaviors. I also pity the chronically mentally ill, who have less of a life than the severely physically disabled, who at least can relate to their environment.

[Raquelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing look into a psych ward. Dr. Covan is directing a group of interns and this book tells their tales of their internship at Bellevue. A very interesting read. The book was not a boring documentary at all, but a great combination of stories that you just can't get enough of. Wonderfully written.

[Emily Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book a long time ago... another of my mother's choices that I read to her. An excellent book, funny and serious at just the right times, and a wonderful look at a psych ward from the viewpoint of those who work there.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

down to earth. fun and informational. loved it!

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me hope that you don't have to lose your sense of humor to be a psychologist!

[Janice Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh boy was it. Hard to put down if you like all the psych stories.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting insight into work in a psychiatric hospital setting.

[Camila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes justice to its name.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book but it was just that. It ended somewhat abruptly but based on the account of the year, it should have. Definitely a decent read but a book I will now give away.

[Tanesha Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a perfect marriage between entertainment and knowledge; loved it.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes you to the dark and light sides of dealing mental illness from a practitioners standpoint. Definitely an easy, intriguing read with splatters of both humor and poignant thought.

[Lisa]

not at HCPL

[Megan Kestel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different from my usual read. Very different from the usual romantic filled plot lines truly depicts wonderful imagery from the perspectives of residents any psychologists dealing with patients.

[Faiza]

whoa! this I have to read. Can't find it in my country at this time but it sounds amazing so I'd keep looking

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little entertaining, a little sententious.