I can hardly believe this, and it deserves a post for the pure laughing involved.

According to Reuters, students at the University College London have analysed the character of Gollum from the Lord of the Rings trilogy (books and movies) and presented their findings:

The students noted his solitary habits, spiteful behaviour, odd interests, difficulty in forming friendships, emotional changeability, nervousness and paranoia.

"He fulfils seven of the nine criteria for schizoid personality disorder, and, if we must label Gollum's problems, we believe this is the most likely diagnosis," Dr Elizabeth Sampson, who headed the research team, said in the British Medical Journal on Friday.

His two personalities -- Gollum and Smeagol -- convinced some students it was a case of schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder.

But schizophrenia was ruled out because delusions were not in keeping with Gollum's culture. The interaction between the two personalities shows Gollum is aware of both Smeagol and Gollum at the same time, which is inconsistent with multiple personality disorder, in which one is usually suppressed.

Just for the record, I merely have an HND in Computer Studies and nothing at all to do with a degree in Psychology, but I'd like to say that it's bloody obvious what was wrong with him, and I'm sure just about everyone of you could have said the same (apart from psychology students hungover from too many parties and struggling to find something to present on a Monday morning after a long weekend!).

The final quote made me giggle:

His bulging eyes and weight loss also suggests a thyroid problem, they added.

I wonder if they recommended any treatment to him and referred him to a local GP? He'd probably have a five year waiting list, not to mention the third degree burns he'd now be sporting. I reckon there's an entire career here.