Mental Illness in History

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. George III (1738-1820), King of England, was known to be "mad" and delusional. Do you know what disease he actually suffered from? syphilis cancer tuberculosis porphyria

2. "Mad" King Ludwig II of Bavaria was known for his excess and his lovely castles - Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee - as well as his insanity. He was admittedly obsessed with the German composer Richard Wagner, one of his operas in particular. Do you know which one? Götterdämmerung Parsifal Lohengrin Tristan und Isolde

3. Queen Maria Eleonore of Brandenburg was believed to have suffered from this condition. post-partum depression paranoid schizophrenia psychosis catatonia

4. Many creative people such as artists, writers, and composers seem to have been afflicted with various mental illnesses. One of these was this composer, known as "the inspired poet of human suffering", who died in a sanitarium. Schumann Brahms Sibelius Ravel

5. This famous author discussed his battle with depression in his memoir, "A Confession". Anton Chekov Mark Twain Leo Tolstoy William Shakespeare

6. This famous dancer, said to have been schizophrenic, spent much of his life in institutions. Vernon Castle Fred Astaire Vaclav Nijinsky Mikhail Baryshnikov

7. Artist Vincent Van Gogh was a very troubled and sad man. Surely everyone has heard the story of Van Gogh cutting off his own ear in a fit of despair- but do you know who the recipient of this macabre gift was? his brother Paul Gauguin his mother a prostitute

8. Which of these famous people was NOT manic-depressive? Charles Dickens Robert Burns Victor Hugo T.S. Eliot

9. Coincidentally (or maybe not coincidentally), this US President and his wife both suffered from major mental illness. Herbert and Lou Hoover George and Martha Washington Abe and Mary Lincoln Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower

10. This famous English scientist and naturalist was believed to have suffered from panic disorder and agoraphobia. Answer: (Both names, or just last)