Diagnosis for Kony 2012's Russell: Reactive Psychosis

Jason Russell will remain hospitalized for weeks: family
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 21, 2012 1:05 PM CDT
Diagnosis for Kony 2012's Russell: Reactive Psychosis
Jason Russell, a co-founder of Invisible Children, speaks at the Invisible Children's 'How It Ends' rally at The Ellipse on June 23, 2009 in Washington, DC.   (Getty Images)

The family of Invisible Children co-founder Jason Russell says his half-naked romp through San Diego was caused by "brief reactive psychosis, an acute state brought on by extreme exhaustion, stress, and dehydration." His wife had earlier said as much, but the new statement claims this is his official "preliminary diagnosis," and reasserts that the incident was not caused by drugs or alcohol. Russell, who created the viral "Kony 2012" video, will stay in the hospital for several weeks, TMZ reports.

The statement adds that, according to doctors, reactive psychosis is "a common experience given the great mental, emotional, and physical shock his body has gone through in these last two weeks." Russell "will get better," although "the recovery process could take months," it concludes. But could "exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition" really cause an episode as bizarre as the one Russell had? Slate says no—at least not without some sort of "underlying mental illness." Click for more on the actual consequences of those three things, as well as what could have caused Russell's outburst. (More Kony 2012 stories.)

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