Hysterical | Episode 7: "We're Gucci" – Detailed Summary

Introduction

In the seventh and final episode of Hysterical, titled "We're Gucci," host Dan Taberski delves deep into the enigmatic outbreak of a mysterious illness among high school girls in LeRoy, New York. This episode serves as the culmination of a seven-part series that scrutinizes whether the outbreak was a case of mass hysteria or something more insidious.

Recap of the Mystery Illness

The episode begins with a poignant reminder of the initial symptoms that alarmed the community. Emily recounts a distressing encounter:

Emily (00:58): "I was like at my locker and she came up to me and she was like, stuttering super bad. I'm like, stop around. She's like, I can't."

Similarly, Rose shares her prolonged experience with incessant tics:

Rose (01:06): "My eighth or ninth day straight ticking and doesn't stop."

These sudden and violent symptoms spooked not only the students but the entire town, raising urgent questions about the illness's origin.

Investigation and Theories

Dan introduces a metaphor to highlight the complexity of defining the illness:

Dan Taberski (01:27): "The Waldorf Jell O salad. Is it a salad or is it a dessert? [...] But when a mystery illness is tearing through your town, settling on labels and definitions takes on a little more import."

The central debate revolves around two primary theories:

1. PANDAS Hypothesis by Dr. Rosario Trifaletti:

   Dr. Trifaletti, a pediatric neurologist from New Jersey, suggests that the illness might be related to PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). This condition, identified in 1998, typically affects children who develop neurological symptoms following a strep infection. Trifaletti proposes the name "Leroy Syndrome" for this outbreak and initiates treatments including steroids and antibiotics.

   Dr. Trifaletti (06:54): "He's an expert on PANDAS."

   Dan Taberski (07:56): "Trifaletti announces that he is ready to give this mystery illness a name. Leroy Syndrome."

2. Conversion Disorder Theory by Dr. McVig:

   In contrast, local neurologists like Dr. McVig argue that the symptoms align more with conversion disorder, a psychological condition where mental stress manifests as physical symptoms. She points out inconsistencies with the PANDAS diagnosis, such as the prevalence of the illness among teenage girls rather than the typical PANDAS demographic of younger boys.

   Dr. McVig (10:48): "It didn't pan out for my patients."

   Dan Taberski (11:13): "PANDAS is not contagious. [...] Also, PANDAS is a pediatric disorder. It happens to children. All the known affected people in Leroy were past that stage."

Personal Stories

The episode weaves in personal narratives to humanize the crisis:

• Emily's Struggle and Isolation:

  Emily, an eighth-grader and marching band member, felt isolated as her symptoms intensified. She describes her mother's skepticism towards the PANDAS theory and the relentless search for solutions.

  Emily (05:02): "So I kind of felt alone for the most part because, like, all the other girls were like, they were friends with each other and like, they knew each other and everything. And I was like, oh, I'm kind of alone in this."

• Rose's Pre-Existing Tourette's Syndrome:

  Unlike her peers, Rose had been living with Tourette's syndrome since childhood. The sudden outbreak exacerbated her tics dramatically, leading to severe self-harm and increased social ostracization.

  Rose (21:31): "I was first diagnosed when I was about 8 years old. I had started this weird facial twitch thing."

  Rose (23:02): "Isn't contagious. [...] Grown ass men would walk up to me and scream at me for causing this in the middle of a grocery store."

• Alicia's Advocacy:

  Another affected individual, Alicia, embraced Dr. Trifaletti's diagnosis as part of her broader health challenges. She later obtained a master's in social work to advocate for children with autism, highlighting the long-term impact of the outbreak.

  Alicia (40:13): "I absolutely love it."

The Role of Media and Community Response

The media frenzy intensified the situation, with relentless coverage exacerbating the hysteria. The school's response was to isolate Rose, believing her presence triggered the spread of tics. This decision alienated her further, turning her into a scapegoat.

Rose (26:02): "The school was like, well, none of these other girls tick when Rose isn't around. Cause she's not there to start it."

Dan analogizes this to historical witch trials, where communities sought simple answers to complex problems:

Dan Taberski (27:08): "Like, the only thing I could really tell them was that I had Tourette's and it wasn't contagious."

Treatment Outcomes and Ongoing Questions

Dr. Trifaletti's treatments showed promise for some girls, including Emily, who was fully cured after 11 days of medication. However, Dr. McVig remains unconvinced, citing the lack of alignment with existing PANDAS literature and noting that many girls began to recover as media attention waned.

Dr. Trifaletti (16:58): "As a group, I think it was mass hysteria, a mass psychogenic illness."

The episode also explores the possibility of placebo effects and the complex interplay between belief and healing.

Conclusion: Mass Psychogenic Illness

Dan reflects on the nature of mass psychogenic illness, drawing parallels to inexplicable phenomena in the natural world and emphasizing the human tendency to seek blame in the face of uncertainty.

Dan Taberski (34:39): "Sometimes, forcing rationality can be the most irrational thing to do."

The episode concludes with a powerful anecdote about Rose volunteering at a Tourette syndrome camp, where the presence of others with tics amplified her own symptoms—underscoring the episode's central theme of connection versus contagion.

Rose (34:15): "We all tic so much more because we're all ticcing."

Ultimately, Hysterical leaves listeners pondering the intricate dynamics of belief, community, and the human psyche in the face of unexplained crises.

Notable Quotes

• Dan Taberski (01:27): "The Waldorf Jell O salad. Is it a salad or is it a dessert? [...] But when a mystery illness is tearing through your town, settling on labels and definitions takes on a little more import."

• Dr. Trifaletti (06:54): "He's an expert on PANDAS."

• Dr. McVig (10:48): "It didn't pan out for my patients."

• Rose (23:02): "Isn't contagious. [...] Grown ass men would walk up to me and scream at me for causing this in the middle of a grocery store."

• Dan Taberski (34:39): "Sometimes, forcing rationality can be the most irrational thing to do."

Final Thoughts

Hysterical masterfully intertwines medical investigations with personal stories, providing a comprehensive look into the LeRoy illness outbreak. By juxtaposing expert opinions with individual experiences, the series invites listeners to reflect on the fragile boundaries between mind and body, belief and reality, and individual versus collective experience.