Earl K. Long is suffering from a nervous breakdown brought on by overwork and a stroke or strokes, rather than a mental condition, his doctors reported here Monday night
A statement covering a diagnosis of the governor's condition was made about 10:30 p. m. by three doc* tors.
They are Drs. Robert Heath, chairman of the department of psychiatry and psychology of the Tulane university medical school; Charles Watkins, chairman of the department of psychology, Louisiana S t a t e university medical school, and Victor Lief, Tulane university internist and psychiatrist. Dr. Paul Pratt, Tulane,university instructor in phychi-atry, who has been assigned to stay with Gov. Long at all times, was present at the reading of the statement.
SAY TREATMENT NEEDED
The doctors said Gov. Long needs continued additional treatment.
This was the statement!
"The diagnosis- made on commitment papers is not meant to be definitive or a final diagnosis because commitment in Louisiana can be for purposes of observation to determine whether or not mental illness does exist
"In this instance use of the term paranoid schizophrenia on the commitment papers was never meant to imply a final diagnosis. This is simply a very common cause for admission to mental institutions and when in doubt may be used as the most likely preliminary diagnosis.
'SMALL STROKE* "With the further period oi observation and the accumula-! tion of additional medical data, we feel that we are able at this time to present a specific analysis of the governor's condition.
4 'Neurological examinations have indicated that the governor has suffered a small stroke or strokes. We have been unable to determine exactly when this occurred ; since the stroke or strokes was sufficiently small so as to produce no obvious or dramatic effect.
"The stroke did not cause any severe muscular incapacity, but residual abnormalities are apparent upon careful I neurological examination.
"In the presence of such physical illness, it is not uncommon to have accompanying emotional symptoms. Frequently such symptoms appear as an exaggeration of an individual's usual mode of behavior.
"The behavorial and emotional symptoms previously noted may have been due to the aftereffects of the small stroke or strokes.
"As is generally known, Gov. Long has always tended to be unusually, active and when faced by a stressful situation he has responded by increasing his activities.
"Increased stress or over-activity superimposed upon a damaged nervous system which is not completely healed can cause an overloading. This tendency in behavior coupled" with even a mild stroke resulted in a marked physical debilitation. "Over compensation in turn tended to make the governor accelerate his activities to an even higher degree.
"In lay terminology, eliminating the additional complications of a stroke, this is commonly recognized as a nervous breakdown from overwork.
"The governor's recovery from a heart attack several years ago is an indication of his recuperative power. However, his heart is still suffering from after-effects of that attack, and should it fail under strain, as it has to a degree, there may be transient or temporary increases in mental symptoms due to impaired circulation in the brain.
