Changes

== Poltergeist activity ==

== Poltergeist activity ==

According to those involved in the case and also reported by the media, around the time of Aunt Harriet's death, the scratching noise in Grandmother Wagner's room ceased; yet, new kinds of [[poltergeist]] activity commenced.<ref name="Sue Lim - Scratching Ceased">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= Around the time of Aunt Harriet's death, the scratching sounds in the grandmother's room stopped. Karl proclaimed that the noisy rodent had died or gone away. But upstairs in Robbie's room new noises began,|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> These strange happenings included the sound of squeaky shoes and marching feet,<ref name="Sue Lim - Squeaky Shoes">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= He described them as squeaky shoes.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref><ref name="Emissary - Poltergeist">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false| title = A Faraway Ancient Country|quote=Whenever the youth was at home, unexplained noises would reverberate from the attic, furniture would move on its own accord, objects flew, and witnesses reported hearing the sound of marching feet. Once, a portrait of Christ fell off the wall.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref> amongst other strange noises,<ref name="Dr. Mehra Shrikhande - Strange Noises">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=SpeXY898fkYC&pg=PA129&dq=Luther+Miles+Schulze&cd=4#v=onepage&q=Luther%20Miles%20Schulze&f=false|title= Paranormal Experiences|quote= Strange noises were heard in the boy's room, furniture moved on its own, pictures fell from the wall and the boy's bed shook violently.|publisher = Unicorn Books|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> furniture moved on its own accord,<ref name="Emissary - Poltergeist"/><ref name="Dr. Mehra Shrikhande - Strange Noises"/> and ordinary objects, including a vase flew or levitated.<ref name="Emissary - Poltergeist"/><ref name="Thomas B. Allen - Poltergeist">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=7AEvAAAAYAAJ&q=A+vase+was+slowly+rising+from+the+table.+Allen&dq=A+vase+was+slowly+rising+from+the+table.+Allen&cd=1| title = Possessed: the true story of an exorcism |quote=While the family members were still talking about the flipping chair, one of  

According to those involved in the case and also reported by the media, around the time of Aunt Harriet's death, the scratching noise in Grandmother Wagner's room ceased; yet, new kinds of [[poltergeist]] activity commenced.<ref name="Sue Lim - Scratching Ceased">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= Around the time of Aunt Harriet's death, the scratching sounds in the grandmother's room stopped. Karl proclaimed that the noisy rodent had died or gone away. But upstairs in Robbie's room new noises began,|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> These strange happenings included the sound of squeaky shoes and marching feet,<ref name="Sue Lim - Squeaky Shoes">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them |quote= He described them as squeaky shoes.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref><ref name="Emissary - Poltergeist">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false| title = A Faraway Ancient Country|quote=Whenever the youth was at home, unexplained noises would reverberate from the attic, furniture would move on its own accord, objects flew, and witnesses reported hearing the sound of marching feet. Once, a portrait of Christ fell off the wall.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref> amongst other strange noises,<ref name="Dr. Mehra Shrikhande - Strange Noises">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=SpeXY898fkYC&pg=PA129&dq=Luther+Miles+Schulze&cd=4#v=onepage&q=Luther%20Miles%20Schulze&f=false|title= Paranormal Experiences|quote= Strange noises were heard in the boy's room, furniture moved on its own, pictures fell from the wall and the boy's bed shook violently.|publisher = Unicorn Books|accessdate = 2010-04-02}}</ref> furniture moved on its own accord,<ref name="Emissary - Poltergeist"/><ref name="Dr. Mehra Shrikhande - Strange Noises"/> and ordinary objects, including a vase flew or levitated.<ref name="Emissary - Poltergeist"/><ref name="Thomas B. Allen - Poltergeist">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=7AEvAAAAYAAJ&q=A+vase+was+slowly+rising+from+the+table.+Allen&dq=A+vase+was+slowly+rising+from+the+table.+Allen&cd=1| title = Possessed: the true story of an exorcism |quote=While the family members were still talking about the flipping chair, one of them pointed to a small table. A vase was slowly rising from the table.|publisher = [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref> Moreover, scratches appeared on the teen's body and [[sacramentals|blessed objects]], such as a container of [[holy water]], which were placed near him, smashed to the ground on their own.<ref name="Dr. Mehra Shrikhande - Holy + Water">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=SpeXY898fkYC&pg=PA129&dq=Luther+Miles+Schulze&cd=4#v=onepage&q=Luther%20Miles%20Schulze&f=false| title = Paranormal Experiences |quote=As the possession intensified, the boy's suffering increased. Scratches appeared on his body and a container of holy water kept near him smashed automatically on the ground.|publisher = Unicorn Books|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref> This said supernatural phenomena was not confined to the Mannheim's home but seemed to carry with him where he went; for example, while at school, Robbie's desk lurched into the aisle and began skittering about, banging the desks of other classmates.<ref name="Sue Lim - School Desk">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false| title = Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them|quote=Nor were these alarming phenomena confined to the Mannheim's home. The desks at Robbie's school were movable seat=desk units, with a single arm acting as a writing surface. Several times in January and February Robbie's desk lurched into the aisle and began skittering about, banging other desks and causing a schoolroom uproar.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref><ref name="Carrol Lee Fry - School Desk">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=LylaC3ZxSbAC&pg=PA130&dq=Robbie+Mannheim&cd=3#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20Mannheim&f=false| title = Cinema of the occult: new age, satanism, Wicca, and spiritualism in film |quote=When objects start flying about in his room and in his school, his parents eventually take him to Father William Bowden (Timothy Dalton), a Jesuit faculty member at St. Louis University who, like Father Karras in ''The Exorcist'', carries a load of guilt and is the the film's doubter but comes to believe the boy is really possessed.|publisher = [[Rosemont Publishing & Printing Corp.]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref> Forty-eight witnesses came forward to substantiate this case and these unbelievable incidents that occurred, according to official reports.<ref name="Emissary - 48">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false| title = A Faraway Ancient Country|quote=Forty-eight witnesses would later come forward to substantiate this case and the unbelievable incidents that occurred.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref><ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Group Hysteria">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Yet the problem is that Robbie's eyewitnesses were spread out. they came from entirely different settings and reported the same things. For instance, the shaking bed was reported by numerous people both in the Washington D.C. area and in St. Louis. Is it really possible that forty-eight eyewitnesses in different areas and at different times were all hysterical?|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref><ref name="Douglas Lockhart - Forty-eight">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=qhyOAAAAMAAJ&q=Robbie+forty+eight+exorcism&dq=Robbie+forty+eight+exorcism&lr=&cd=3|title= The dark side of God: a quest for the lost heart of Christianity|quote=The film ''The Exorcist'' was based on a supposed case of actual possession where a spirit of considerable malignancy was exorcised by Jesuits in 1949 - official reports show that no less than forty-eight people witnessed this exorcism, nine of them Jesuits.|publisher = Element|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref>

them pointed to a small table. A vase was slowly rising from the table.|publisher = [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref> Moreover, scratches appeared on the teen's body and [[sacramentals|blessed objects]], such as a container of [[holy water]], which were placed near him, smashed to the ground on their own.<ref name="Dr. Mehra Shrikhande - Holy + Water">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=SpeXY898fkYC&pg=PA129&dq=Luther+Miles+Schulze&cd=4#v=onepage&q=Luther%20Miles%20Schulze&f=false| title = Paranormal Experiences |quote=As the possession intensified, the boy's suffering increased. Scratches appeared on his body and a container of holy water kept near him smashed automatically on the ground.|publisher = Unicorn Books|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref> This said supernatural phenomena was not confined to the Mannheim's home but seemed to carry with him where he went; for example, while at school, Robbie's desk lurched into the aisle and began skittering about, banging the desks of other classmates.<ref name="Sue Lim - School Desk">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false| title = Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them|quote=Nor were these alarming phenomena confined to the Mannheim's home. The desks at Robbie's school were movable seat=desk units, with a single arm acting as a writing surface. Several times in January and February Robbie's desk lurched into the aisle and began skittering about, banging other desks and causing a schoolroom uproar.|publisher = Writers Club Press|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref><ref name="Carrol Lee Fry - School Desk">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=LylaC3ZxSbAC&pg=PA130&dq=Robbie+Mannheim&cd=3#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20Mannheim&f=false| title = Cinema of the occult: new age, satanism, Wicca, and spiritualism in film |quote=When objects start flying about in his room and in his school, his parents eventually take him to Father William Bowden (Timothy Dalton), a Jesuit faculty member at St. Louis University who, like Father Karras in ''The Exorcist'', carries a load of guilt and is the the film's doubter but comes to believe the boy is really possessed.|publisher = [[Rosemont Publishing & Printing Corp.]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref> Forty-eight witnesses came forward to substantiate this case and these unbelievable incidents that occurred, according to official reports.<ref name="Emissary - 48">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false| title = A Faraway Ancient Country|quote=Forty-eight witnesses would later come forward to substantiate this case and the unbelievable incidents that occurred.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-03-27}}</ref><ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Group Hysteria">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Yet the problem is that Robbie's eyewitnesses were spread out. they came from entirely different settings and reported the same things. For instance, the shaking bed was reported by numerous people both in the Washington D.C. area and in St. Louis. Is it really possible that forty-eight eyewitnesses in different areas and at different times were all hysterical?|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref><ref name="Douglas Lockhart - Forty-eight">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=qhyOAAAAMAAJ&q=Robbie+forty+eight+exorcism&dq=Robbie+forty+eight+exorcism&lr=&cd=3|title= The dark side of God: a quest for the lost heart of Christianity|quote=The film ''The Exorcist'' was based on a supposed case of actual possession where a spirit of considerable malignancy was exorcised by Jesuits in 1949 - official reports show that no less than forty-eight people witnessed this exorcism, nine of them Jesuits.|publisher = Element|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref>

== Medical and pastoral conclusions ==

== Medical and pastoral conclusions ==

Popular psychiatric interpretations of Robbie Mannheim's experience have been offered, including [[dissociative identity disorder]], [[Tourette's syndrome]], [[schizophrenia]], [[sexual abuse]], and [[group hysteria]]. Terry D. Cooper, Ph.D., a psychologist with doctorates from [[Vanderbilt University]] and [[Saint Louis University]], as well as Cindy K. Epperson, a doctoral fellow at the [[University of Missouri]], have analyzed the case of Robbie Mannheim and have come to the conclusion that normal psychological explanations can not account for the claimed events; their explanations are offered here.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Popular Psychological Explanations">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Psychological interpretations have certainly been offered for this case. Some of these interpretations include multiple personality disorder (or what is now called dissociative identity disorder), Tourette's syndrom, schizophernia, sexual abuse by the aunt, and group hysteria.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dissociative Identity Disorder (also known as Multiple Personality Disorder) is a [[dissociative disorder]] involving a disturbance of identity in which two or more separate and distinct personality identities manipulate the individual's behaviour at different moments, whose treatment consists primarily of [[psychotherapy]].<ref name="NAMI - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder_(formerly_Multiple_Personality_Disorder).htm|title= Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder)|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Although some symptoms of dissociative identity disorder line up with Robbie's behavior,<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Robbie seemed to manifest a demonic personality along with his normal personality. His voice and facial expressions would change dramatically. Several problems arise when we try explain Robbie's profile strictly from a multiple personality perspective. The most basic is the question, Why did Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappear? Multiple personality disorder does not simply "go away" as a result of having priests perform an exorcism ritual. Again, treatment involves a slow, tedious process of psychotherapy. There is no evidence in Robbie's case that these multiple personality disorder symptoms returned. If he truly had MPD, where did it go? A second problem is that MPD is clearly related to chronic abuse in one's childhood. Investigations into his family backgound, as well as Robbie's own testimony, revealed no such ongoing abuse. Third, an MPD diagnosis hardly explains the strange paranormal-like activities going on around the boy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dr. Cooper and Dr. Epperson criticize this explanation because it fails to explain how Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappeared after the exorcism ritual since psychotherapy is a slow and tedious process.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Robbie seemed to manifest a demonic personality along with his normal personality. His voice and facial expressions would change dramatically. Several problems arise when we try explain Robbie's profile strictly from a multiple personality perspective. The most basic is the question, Why did Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappear? Multiple personality disorder does not simply "go away" as a result of having priests perform an exorcism ritual. Again, treatment involves a slow, tedious process of psychotherapy. There is no evidence in Robbie's case that these multiple personality disorder symptoms returned. If he truly had MPD, where did it go? A second problem is that MPD is clearly related to chronic abuse in one's childhood. Investigations into his family backgound, as well as Robbie's own testimony, revealed no such ongoing abuse. Third, an MPD diagnosis hardly explains the strange paranormal-like activities going on around the boy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Moreover, Robbie Mannheim displayed no previous history of multiple personality disorder earlier in his life.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder"/> According to Cooper and Epperson, labeling Robbie's condition as dissociative identity disorder also fails to explain the strange [[paranormal]] activity associated with the case to which forty-eight individuals testified.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder"/>  

Popular psychiatric interpretations of Robbie Mannheim's experience have been offered, including [[dissociative identity disorder]], [[Tourette's syndrome]], [[schizophrenia]], [[sexual abuse]], and [[group hysteria]]. Terry D. Cooper, Ph.D., a psychologist with doctorates from [[Vanderbilt University]] and [[Saint Louis University]], as well as Cindy K. Epperson, a doctoral fellow at the [[University of Missouri]], have analyzed the case of Robbie Mannheim and have come to the conclusion that normal psychological explanations can not account for the claimed events; their explanations are offered here.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Popular Psychological Explanations">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Psychological interpretations have certainly been offered for this case. Some of these interpretations include multiple personality disorder (or what is now called dissociative identity disorder), Tourette's syndrom, schizophernia, sexual abuse by the aunt, and group hysteria.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dissociative Identity Disorder (also known as Multiple Personality Disorder) is a [[dissociative disorder]] involving a disturbance of identity in which two or more separate and distinct personality identities manipulate the individual's behaviour at different moments, whose treatment consists primarily of [[psychotherapy]].<ref name="NAMI - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder_(formerly_Multiple_Personality_Disorder).htm|title= Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder)|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Although some symptoms of dissociative identity disorder line up with Robbie's behavior,<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Robbie seemed to manifest a demonic personality along with his normal personality. His voice and facial expressions would change dramatically. Several problems arise when we try explain Robbie's profile strictly from a multiple personality perspective. The most basic is the question, Why did Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappear? Multiple personality disorder does not simply "go away" as a result of having priests perform an exorcism ritual. Again, treatment involves a slow, tedious process of psychotherapy. There is no evidence in Robbie's case that these multiple personality disorder symptoms returned. If he truly had MPD, where did it go? A second problem is that MPD is clearly related to chronic abuse in one's childhood. Investigations into his family backgound, as well as Robbie's own testimony, revealed no such ongoing abuse. Third, an MPD diagnosis hardly explains the strange paranormal-like activities going on around the boy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dr. Cooper and Dr. Epperson criticize this explanation because it fails to explain how Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappeared after the exorcism ritual since psychotherapy is a slow and tedious process.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Robbie seemed to manifest a demonic personality along with his normal personality. His voice and facial expressions would change dramatically. Several problems arise when we try explain Robbie's profile strictly from a multiple personality perspective. The most basic is the question, Why did Robbie's symptoms suddenly disappear? Multiple personality disorder does not simply "go away" as a result of having priests perform an exorcism ritual. Again, treatment involves a slow, tedious process of psychotherapy. There is no evidence in Robbie's case that these multiple personality disorder symptoms returned. If he truly had MPD, where did it go? A second problem is that MPD is clearly related to chronic abuse in one's childhood. Investigations into his family backgound, as well as Robbie's own testimony, revealed no such ongoing abuse. Third, an MPD diagnosis hardly explains the strange paranormal-like activities going on around the boy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Moreover, Robbie Mannheim displayed no previous history of multiple personality disorder earlier in his life.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder"/> According to Cooper and Epperson, labeling Robbie's condition as dissociative identity disorder also fails to explain the strange [[paranormal]] activity associated with the case to which forty-eight individuals testified.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Dissociative Identity Disorder"/>  

The essential feature of Tourette’s syndrome are multiple [[tic]]s, which may include blurting out inappropriate comments.<ref name="NAMI - Tourette's Syndrome">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Tourettes_Syndrome.htm|title= Tourette's Syndrome|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Robbie was indeed known to use foul language during the exorcism ritual,<ref name="Sue Lim - Foul Language">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them|quote=Robbie periodically awakened for moments...then fell back into his nightmare sleep and thrased and laughed and screamed. "I'm in hell," he shourted, laughing.|publisher = [[iUniverse]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> albeit he no longer swore after the successful exorcism.<ref name="Terry Douglas Lockhart - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=qhyOAAAAMAAJ&q=Robbie++exorcism&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=4|title= The dark side of God: a quest for the lost heart of Christianity|quote=And following the classical Tourette's syndrome, Robbie does curse and swear  

The essential feature of Tourette’s syndrome are multiple [[tic]]s, which may include blurting out inappropriate comments.<ref name="NAMI - Tourette's Syndrome">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Tourettes_Syndrome.htm|title= Tourette's Syndrome|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Robbie was indeed known to use foul language during the exorcism ritual,<ref name="Sue Lim - Foul Language">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZH_CdJpxoUC&pg=PA98&dq=Phyllis+Mannheim&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Phyllis%20Mannheim&f=false|title= Good Spirits, Bad Spirits: How to Distinguish Between Them|quote=Robbie periodically awakened for moments...then fell back into his nightmare sleep and thrased and laughed and screamed. "I'm in hell," he shourted, laughing.|publisher = [[iUniverse]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> albeit he no longer swore after the successful exorcism.<ref name="Terry Douglas Lockhart - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=qhyOAAAAMAAJ&q=Robbie++exorcism&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=4|title= The dark side of God: a quest for the lost heart of Christianity|quote=And following the classical Tourette's syndrome, Robbie does curse and swear like a seasoned trooper; but he recovers from this compulsion when the exorcism...|publisher = Element|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dr. Cooperson and Dr. Epperson argue that "reducing Robbie's entire set of circumstances to this simple disorder does not do justice to this case. It's simply implausible that a young man with Tourette's was able to fool nine Jesuit priests, hospital personnel, and all the family members."<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Yet reducing Robbie's entire set of circumstances to this simple disorder does not do justice to this case. It's simply implausible that a young man with with Tourette's was able to fool nine Jesuit priests, hospital personnel, and all the family members.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Moreover, Tourette's syndrome is treated with medication and [[counseling]] - it simply does not go away.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Also, Tourette's syndrome, like the other disorders we've discussed, simply doesn't go away. It is usually treated with counseling and medication.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref>

like a seasoned trooper; but he recovers from this compulsion when the exorcism...|publisher = Element|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Dr. Cooperson and Dr. Epperson argue that "reducing Robbie's entire set of circumstances to this simple disorder does not do justice to this case. It's simply implausible that a young man with Tourette's was able to fool nine Jesuit priests, hospital personnel, and all the family members."<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Yet reducing Robbie's entire set of circumstances to this simple disorder does not do justice to this case. It's simply implausible that a young man with with Tourette's was able to fool nine Jesuit priests, hospital personnel, and all the family members.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> Moreover, Tourette's syndrome is treated with medication and [[counseling]] - it simply does not go away.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Tourette's">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote=Also, Tourette's syndrome, like the other disorders we've discussed, simply doesn't go away. It is usually treated with counseling and medication.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref>

Schizophrenia is another mental disorder that some people believe Robbie might have had. According to the [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]: "Schizophrenia often interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, to distinguish reality from fantasy, to manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. The first signs of schizophrenia typically emerge in the teenage years or early twenties."<ref name="NAMI - Schizophrenia">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036|title= Schizophrenia|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> It is often treated with [[antipsychotics]].<ref name="NAMI - Schizophrenia">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036|title= Schizophrenia|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Psychologist Cooper states that Robbie was too young to have developed schizophrenia. Cooper also argues that Mannheim never became [[psychotic]], but rather, remained coherent throughout the process and did not receive any medication or psychotherapy for his condition.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Schizophrenia">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Applying the diagnosis of schizophrenia to Robbie also involves several problems. First, at thirteen, Robbie was generally too young for schizophrenia, whose onset typically occurs between seventeen and twenty-five years of age. More importantly, there is no evidence that Robbie became pyschotic of lost complete touch with reality. He remained coherent throughout the precess. Also, even if Robbie were schizophrenic, how did he suddenly become "cured" of it? There was no medication and no psychotherapy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> According to a Christian argument, the Maryland youth went on to lead a healthy existence, whereas schizophrenia and other dissociative disorders are often lifelong and require extensive psychiatric treatment; moreover, Robbie Mannheim never had a [[relapse]].<ref name="Emissary - Happily Married">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false|title= A Faraway Ancient Country |quote= While most psychologists would like to dismiss both these cases as that of mental illness, they cannot fully explain why both people never had a relapse. Clara and the Maryland youth went on to lead normal, healthy existences, whereas schizophrenia and other dissociative disorders are often lifelong and require extensive psychiatric treatment. In the early to middle part of twentieth century, people were committed to sanitariums for these conditions. Yet, in both cases, there seems to be no recorded residual effects. Full-blown mental illness rarely (if ever) goes away on its own.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref>

Schizophrenia is another mental disorder that some people believe Robbie might have had. According to the [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]: "Schizophrenia often interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, to distinguish reality from fantasy, to manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. The first signs of schizophrenia typically emerge in the teenage years or early twenties."<ref name="NAMI - Schizophrenia">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036|title= Schizophrenia|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> It is often treated with [[antipsychotics]].<ref name="NAMI - Schizophrenia">{{cite web|url =http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036|title= Schizophrenia|publisher = [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]|accessdate = 2010-04-05}}</ref> Psychologist Cooper states that Robbie was too young to have developed schizophrenia. Cooper also argues that Mannheim never became [[psychotic]], but rather, remained coherent throughout the process and did not receive any medication or psychotherapy for his condition.<ref name="Terry D. Cooper, Cindy K. Epperson - Schizophrenia">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=DXHqjYs3l5kC&pg=PA25&dq=Robbie++exorcism&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Robbie%20%20exorcism&f=false|title= Evil: Satan, Sin, and Psychology |quote= Applying the diagnosis of schizophrenia to Robbie also involves several problems. First, at thirteen, Robbie was generally too young for schizophrenia, whose onset typically occurs between seventeen and twenty-five years of age. More importantly, there is no evidence that Robbie became pyschotic of lost complete touch with reality. He remained coherent throughout the precess. Also, even if Robbie were schizophrenic, how did he suddenly become "cured" of it? There was no medication and no psychotherapy.|publisher = [[Paulist Press]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref> According to a Christian argument, the Maryland youth went on to lead a healthy existence, whereas schizophrenia and other dissociative disorders are often lifelong and require extensive psychiatric treatment; moreover, Robbie Mannheim never had a [[relapse]].<ref name="Emissary - Happily Married">{{cite book|url =http://books.google.com/books?id=q469xc7mbksC&pg=PA69&dq=Walter+Halloran+exorcism+ouija&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=Walter%20Halloran%20exorcism%20ouija&f=false|title= A Faraway Ancient Country |quote= While most psychologists would like to dismiss both these cases as that of mental illness, they cannot fully explain why both people never had a relapse. Clara and the Maryland youth went on to lead normal, healthy existences, whereas schizophrenia and other dissociative disorders are often lifelong and require extensive psychiatric treatment. In the early to middle part of twentieth century, people were committed to sanitariums for these conditions. Yet, in both cases, there seems to be no recorded residual effects. Full-blown mental illness rarely (if ever) goes away on its own.|publisher = [[Lulu (company)|Lulu]]|accessdate = 2010-04-03}}</ref>