Hidden Valley Road

Buchzusammenfassung

Robert Kolker is a best-selling author and investigative journalist whose work has appeared in publications such as New York Magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek. His highly acclaimed book, Lost Girls (2013), about a series of unsolved killings on Long Island, was adapted into a film of the same name released in 2020.

During Donald’s illness, the prevailing theory of the "schizophrenogenic mother" blamed maternal behavior for schizophrenia, though the criteria were contradictory and unclear. Mimi and Don, aware of the stigma surrounding mental health institutions in the 1960s, were determined to keep Donald out of such facilities, which were infamous for their inhumane treatments, as exposed in the 1959 book *The Caretakers*. Their efforts initially seemed effective—Donald resumed school, sought psychiatric help, and married Jean in 1967. However, the family’s struggles deepened as Jim, the second son, began exhibiting violent and obsessive behaviors, mirroring Donald’s earlier symptoms. By 1970, both brothers faced marital turmoil, with Donald’s escalating violence leading to his hospitalization in Pueblo. His release brought no relief, as his erratic behavior traumatized his younger sisters. Meanwhile, the family’s challenges expanded: Margaret was sent to live with the Gary family, leaving Mary feeling abandoned; Matt’s bizarre actions hinted at his own mental decline; and by 1982, six Galvin siblings had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Despite some hope through groundbreaking research into sensory gating and genetic factors like the CHRNA7 gene, treatments remained limited, and the side effects of existing medications were devastating, contributing to the deaths of Jim and Joseph. The family’s pain was compounded by Brian’s tragic death, which revealed the pervasive impact of mental illness across the siblings. Amidst this, Lindsay emerged as a caretaker and advocate, coordinating research participation and holding onto optimism for future breakthroughs. In 2017, her daughter Kate’s internship in Dr. Freedman’s lab poignantly connected the family’s legacy of suffering with ongoing scientific efforts, symbolizing a bridge between past struggles and future possibilities.

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