Brain Story III: Yahn — With a Little Help from My Friends

Yahn was voted “Best All Around” at Santa Monica High, a public high school in California of 3,600 students. Articulate, charming, outgoing, Yahn had more friends than he had time to spend. But in college, his behavior became erratic and increasingly alienating. Unknown to him, he was slipping into a psychotic episode. One by one, nearly every friendship evaporated. After a jarring arrest, he went into treatment. His recovery was remarkable. But by then, his friendships, the life that he had built before, was devastated. This episode looks at that toll – through the three friendships -- one friend who left, one who hung with him, and one who stayed at first, only to disconnect after Yahn recovered.