In 2006, the novelist and essayist Siri Hustvedt suffered an inexplicable seizure while speaking at a memorial service for her father. The seizures continued to occur, and the condition remains undiagnosed. Her most recent book The Shaking Woman or A History of My Nerves tells the story of her condition and explores her symptoms through the lenses of several disciplines: medical history, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, contemporary neuroscience, philosophy, and literature. Hustvedt has a PhD in English literature from Columbia and has worked as a writing teacher with psychiatric patients at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in New York. Her web site is www.sirihustvedt.

Maurice Preter, MD is a practicing neurologist, psychiatrist, and psychotherapist. Dr. Preter received his training in neurology and psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and is board certified in both specialties. He has done neuropsychiatric research in stress, anxiety, panic disorder, and psychological trauma. A member of the psychiatry faculty of Columbia University?s College of Physician?s and Surgeons, his particular interest is in the treatment of conditions that cross the conventional and limiting borders of psychiatry, neurology, and general medicine. His web site is www.psychiatryneurology.net.

Please join us for a discussion between Siri Hustvedt and Dr. Maurice Preter on unexplained medical symptoms, their meanings for patients and for doctors, and the vital importance of viewing illness, no matter how mysterious, in a narrative context.

Hosted by Dr. Rita Charon and the Program in Narrative Medicine.

Wednesday May 12th at 5:00 PM in the Faculty Club in the Physicians & Surgeons Building, 4th floor, Room #446.

PDF: http://psychiatryneurology.net/wp-content/uploads/SiriHustvedt_MauricePreter_flyer.pdf

Listen Here:

[audio:http://psychiatryneurology.net/wp-content/uploads/SHMPCU051210.mp3]