Take heart, your kin’s bipolar disorder is treatable

My cousin was recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. He is a bright young man and he could be a genius. He likes taking on everybody and can’t keep a job.

In his last assignment, he stormed the MD’s office and criticised him for “slow thinking” and “moving like a tortoise” in decision-making. He was fired. He got depressed and we thought he might harm himself. Is there a way we could slow him down and ask him to take things easy?

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One of the most influential scientific publications in the field of mental health is the monthly British Journal of Psychiatry. You can get it free of charge online. I suggest that you read the current issue. The particular article relevant to your question is on “psychotic traits in comedians” found on page 341.

It starts with the following words “The age old belief that creativity is associated with madness captures the public imagination…’’ It goes on to explain that scientific studies give some support to this observation. Being funny “is a healthy and desirable trait”. I suspect that your cousin is a fun-loving, active, talkative easy-going individual.

In 1994, my old friend and boss Prof Antony Clare, and his world famous patient and comedian Spike Milligan, wrote a book that is still in print. It sold over two million copies and contributed to the reduction of the stigma associated with mental illness in general and Bipolar Disorder in particular.

Under the title Depression and How to Survive It, the pair of patient and doctor explored Bipolar Disorder from different perspectives. In the introduction of the book they make the following important points that are held in error by many lay people.

• Depression is mild and a passing cloud and a matter of personal weakness. The truth is that depression is a major public health challenge that affects millions of people.

• Depression is not a life threatening disorder like cancer or heart disease. The truth is that many people who die from alcohol related deaths, suicide and some heart diseases, primarily suffer from depression.

• Depression is untreatable. The truth is that even during the time the pair were writing the book, Milligan went into depressive phase, got better and continued writing.

Sir Winston Churchill is without doubt one of the most famous and influential men born in Great Britain. He suffered periods of severe depression which he called “the black dog” which kept following him wherever he went.

Like your cousin, Churchill is said to have had episodes of mania. He was described as belligerent, combative, funny, sarcastic and at times overbearing while in that state. Like your cousin, he made serious errors of judgment including his famous description of his “enjoyment” of the First World War in which millions died!

Like your cousin who has now been sacked, Churchill is said to have had a problem managing finances, in part because of his gambling, drinking and loss of control. And again like your cousin, he is said to have had abnormal energy, often working late into the night.

As further show of poor judgment, he once called a meeting of his generals at 4am and attended the session in a bathrobe. At other times he met his staff dressed only in his pink silk underwear. He is known to have conducted important meetings in the bathtub.

Creative manic phases

His writing skills are legendary, having left behind 15 tonnes of personal papers, mostly written during creative manic phases. Perhaps, like your cousin, he had no time for slow thinkers who moved like tortoises.

He thought fast and clearly, an attribute that came in handy during his life as a wartime leader.

Unlike Sir Winston, your cousin is living at a time when effective treatment is available for the disorder. Just for the record, you cannot slow him down — you have to take him to a qualified doctor.

Following a period of evaluation, he may be offered counselling, medication and other treatment that would control the condition. Finally, many people in the world head important institutions while receiving treatment for bipolar disorder.

Just in case you do not know, your cousin shares this diagnosis with Moses of the Bible, Mozart, Van Gogh, Ted Turner and a number of American presidents including Abraham Lincoln.

Jonathan Davidson estimates that 50 per cent of all American presidents have suffered a psychiatric illness in one form or another and that of the 51 prime ministers of the UK since 1721, 70 per cent have had a diagnosable mental disorder. Your cousin could also be headed for high office.