Interview with Troy Lovett, May 22, 2020

Interview Summary

Troy Lovett identifies as a person with borderline schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this interview, Lovett talks about some of his experiences in 1959 that, in retrospect, were indications that he was not well. Lovett talks more about his experience at the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp in 1960 that soon led to his awareness of his mental illness (covered in detail in his previous interview). He talks about his thought processes at the time and how his compulsions kept him from being able to function. Lovett talks about how aware his parents were of his inability to function in 1960 and their attitudes regarding mental illness at the time. He talks about the stigma surrounding mental illness in the 1960s.

Lovett describes the long drive to Saint Joseph Hospital on November 6, 1960, which he also covered in his previous interview. Lovett talks about his arrival at Saint Joseph Hospital on November 7, 1960. He describes his feelings upon being taken to his room and left by his parents. Lovett discusses why he believes his parents consented to him undergoing shock treatments at Saint Joseph Hospital. Lovett describes in as much detail as he can his first experience of receiving shock treatments in the basement of Saint Joseph Hospital. He talks about how he later found out what the experience of shock treatments was actually like and how that affected him psychologically. Lovett discusses the intended effects of shock treatments, especially in their use on patients experiencing PTSD or depression. He talks about the memory loss he has experienced due, at least in part, to the shock treatments he underwent at Saint Joseph Hospital. He talks about how he did not return to school upon returning home and how his condition began to worsen. He talks about how his parents' connections in the Williamsburg community may have led them to choose Highland Hospital as the next location for his treatment.

Interview Keyword

Saint Joseph Hospital Thought processes Compulsive behaviors Compulsions Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Borderline schizophrenia Shock treatments Highland Hospital (Asheville, N.C.) Rituals Family Mothers Parents Fathers One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Motion picture)

Interview LC Subject

Child mental health. Childhood Compulsive behavior. Families. Mental health. Mental illness. Physicians Psychiatric hospitals Psychiatrists Psychiatry. Psychologists. Psychology, Pathological. Psychology. Repetition compulsion. Schizophrenia. Williamsburg (Ky.) Shock therapy

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.