Super Shrinks Psychoanalyze Superheroes

SAN DIEGO (July 22) -- Being a superhero has its perks, but caped crusaders like Spider-Man and Batman also can suffer from some super-sized mental problems.

However, as anyone who reads comic books knows, it's difficult for Spidey or the Caped Crusader to carve out time from their busy crime-fighting schedule to talk with a mental health expert.

But three L.A.-based psychiatrists have come to the rescue, figuring that if they can't get the superheroes on the couch, they can at least give their fans some food for thought about mental health issues.

On July 22, Dr. H. Eric Bender, Dr. Praveen R. Kambam and Dr. Vasilis K. Pozios will be speaking at the San Diego Comic Con on a panel titled "Transcending Trauma: From the Birth of Batman to the Rise of the Red Hood."

The trio, who work under the banner Broadcast Thought, are big comics fans, and they believe that analyzing heroes from a psychiatric perspective can add new dimensions to the stories while erasing misinformation and stigmas about mental health and treatment.

For instance, Pozios said that while some people have speculated that Batman suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because he witnessed the death of his parents, close analysis of the medical criteria suggests he has some of the symptoms but not the disorder.

"There are actually four categories of criteria for PTSD," Bender told AOL News. "There has to be some inciting traumatic event, such as the threat of death or serious injury. Then the person has to have re-experiencing of the event, such as through nightmares or flashbacks.

"There is also hyper-arousal, such as an ex-soldier being extra sensitive to sudden noises. Finally, the person avoids places and other things associated with the traumatic event."

Still, Pozios noted that Batman has experienced post-traumatic symptoms, such as flashbacks as a child, difficulties in relationships and hypervigilance.

Also, since Batman has been known to take flowers to the site where his parents were killed, Pozios said this suggests he "does not experience avoidance of the site of the trauma, a feature often seen in individuals with PTSD."

In this era of celebrity therapy, Bender is quick to add in with tongue firmly in cheek that he has never actually treated Batman or Bruce Wayne.

The doctors also cite the Hulk as an example of a superhero who exhibits post-traumatic symptoms, especially the way that actor Bill Bixby portrayed his alter ego, Dr. David Banner, on the 1970s-era TV show. In addition, Kambam said the Hulk has signs of other problems as well.

"The Hulk might benefit from anger management strategies," he suggested, adding that his tendency to flare up quickly may be related to his concrete thinking and intellectual functioning.

Bender agrees.

"The Hulk shows impulsive behavior that may be related to his low IQ and simplistic thinking," he said. "This impulsivity is
similar to that seen in patients with low IQ that have learned no better ways of expressing their frustration than being violent and aggressive. Therefore, they may benefit from learning anger management strategies and other coping skills."

Meanwhile, there are some superheroes who are good role models for dealing with mental stress, such as Peter Parker aka Spider-Man.

"Peter Parker is actually very well-adjusted despite the loss of his parents and his Uncle Ben," Pozios said. "He has a happy disposition for the most part, and often uses humor to get through tough times. Although he does express some anxiety over balancing his public and private lives, Parker does have significant insight into this dilemma."

Since Parker is known for engaging in inner dialogues with himself, the doctors believe he would be a good candidate for "psycho-dynamic therapy" -- basically lying on a couch and probing his subconscious.

"Although he does express some workaholic tendencies, he does have the insight to understand that he is making that choice," Pozios added.

But the most well-adjusted superhero just might be the guy who started it all: Superman.

In the past, comic legends like Jules Feiffer have tried to suggest the Man of Steel must have some kind of identity problem for him to need a secret identity, especially a wimpy one like Clark Kent.

But Bender and Pozios heartily disagree with this notion.

"It's actually more mature of him to realize he needs to be grounded rather than be a god-like being on Earth," Pozios said.

Bender, Pozios and Kambam realize that some people might consider analyzing superheroes in regard to mental health as a super waste of time, but they've seen positive effects since they lectured at last year's Con.

"It does make it easier to talk about mental health issues," Kambam said. "Last year, several people shared their experience with mental illness in their friends and family and thanked us for our efforts. At least two or three people even asked about how to become a psychiatrist."

And for them, that's super.