Scientology Critical Information Directory

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Potential Trouble Source Type 3 (PTS Type 3, PTS Type III), or Psychotic Break

«A person suffering a psychotic breakdown due to connection with an anti-Scientologist or psychiatrist, supposedly. Often this label is applied to people who flip under the incredible strain of Scientology's paranoid bullshit. PTS Type Three's are then placed on the Introspection Rundown, where they are locked up to hide them from authorities, who don't like to see people driven round the bend by the cult, and may make waves.» — The ARS Acronym/Terminology FAQ v3.5 by Martin Hunt.

Affidavit of Martin Ottmann (19 April 1996): Nervous Breakdowns, Collapses, Etc.

My roommate at the Hacienda, Len Thomas, told me in 1991, that he had to watch a public at the Sandcastle, who had gone "PTS Type III" after auditing (PTS Type III = someone, who has gone crazy). He said that the woman was put into a room, which she couldn’t leave and that he had to watch her, without saying anything to her until she would get better.

Few days later, when I asked him about that woman, he told me, that she was sent home, after she had calmed down.

Affidavit of Jesse Prince (20 August 1999)

26. In 1973, Hubbard announced to the Scientology world that he had solved the problem of how to handle a person in a "psychotic break".  Hubbard stated that this was a "technical breakthrough" which possibly ranks with the major discoveries of the twentieth century.  He further said his discovery means the last reason to have psychiatry around is gone.  He went on to say the key is what caused the person to introspect before the psychotic break.  During my tenure in Scientology I have observed four instances of people having a psychotic break.  In each case the person was sleep deprived; each had been told their job performance was inadequate; and each person was subjected to Scientology ethics. [...]

34. It is obvious from these files that Lisa McPherson complained that auditing and Scientology were not working for her in 1995 and that she wanted to leave and return to Texas.  Her "stats" were down, i.e., her production and income at AMC Publishing.  As a result, she was placed in Ethics at her work where the records revealed that she was constantly doing "amends" and writing "O/W's", overts and write-ups, which resulted in less time to obtain adequate sleep which further, in my own observations, leads to psychotic breaks.  This is confirmed by L. Ron Hubbard in his own writings, "Introspection Rundown Additional Steps."

Affidavit of Hana Eltringham Whitfield (8 March 1994)

138. Raymond Mithoff ("Mithoff"), Senior Case Supervisor Int., writes in his February 16, 1994 declaration attached herein, "I can ... state that there is no special terminology in Scientology Church scripture for suicide. Suicide is regarded, in church scripture, as an aberration, and any person who has suicidal tendencies is a person who needs help." Mithoff doesn't specify what help is given to Scientologists with suicidal tendencies and who are PTS Type III. Due to my auditor training and experience, I was privy to information about suicides and PTS Type 3s, as was Mithoff, that most Scientologists aren't, so I understand his reluctance in elaborating on these points. [...]

140. According to Hubbard, psychosis, insanity and PTS Type 3 are one and the same.

[to be completed]

Affidavit of Stacy Brooks Young (9 March 1994)

102. The subject of Type 3 PTS cases is one of the dark secrets of Scientology. No one is supposed to talk about it outside of Scientology, and it is treated with utmost security when someone becomes Type 3 PTS. The reason for this is obvious: people are not supposed to be driven insane by Scientology, so it would be a public relations nightmare to try to explain it. But more importantly, the treatment of people who have psychotic breaks in Scientology is a clear abuse of the mental health laws, and if such treatment were brought to the attention of mental health officials there is little doubt that Scientology would be subjected to public scrutiny for its practices in this area.

Affidavit of Andre Tabayoyon (5 March 1994) - INSTRUCTIONS TO CAUSE SUICIDE

45. I received instructions directly from Ray Mithoff to use the Hubbard Tech of thought reform to drive Tom Ashworth to a psychotic break. The express object of the exercise was to drive Tom crazy and to commit suicide. Tom went PTS Type III and attempted suicide. Later, Tom escaped from RPF and was caught, brought back against his will, isolated with 2 guards and more thought processes were used on him to calm him down rather than have him kill himself.

46. I also saw and heard the Hubbard Tech of thought reform used to drive Gary Epstein to a PTS Type III psychotic break as punishment for his refusal to comply with orders he received from the Wayne Marple mission.

107. In 1988 I case supervised Tom Ashworth who had gone PTS type III, slashed his wrists and later tried to escape with some upper level materials he had somehow obtained. I ordered a C/S 53 FIN and a LCRE. Tom Ashworth's pre clear folder was sent up to Ray Mithoff who was then RTC Inspector General for Tech. I was CSI. The folder came back with everything regarding the psychotic break removed from the folder.

The Independent (Jan. 1994): "The Prisoners of Saint Hill" by Tim Kelsey and Mike Ricks

The investigation was instigated because the woman put in isolation was already suffering from an acute mental disorder — in the terminology used by the investigating officer, she was Type III, which translates as "insane". She went insane, according to the document, while she was working for the organisation in Europe. In early 1993, she arrived in Saint Hill and was put on a baby watch because she was thought to be a "security risk".

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