Reviewed by Chistine Kerr, Ph.D., LMHC
Despite the genetic predisposition that exists for many mental health disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, there is often an associated shame and stigma that does not exist for physically based diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and breast cancer. Bipolar Disorder, marked by swings from mania to depression, presents one of the bigger challenges in mental health.
Dr. Kay Jamison is a professor of psychiatry at John Hopkins School of Medicine. She is one of the foremost authorities on bipolar disorders and brings an almost unmatched scientific and clinical background to this topic. Dr. Jamison is trained in Clinical Psychology at UCLA, earning her Ph.D. in 1975. Along with Dr. Frederick Goodwin of the George Washington University Medical Center, Dr. Jamison co-authored what has become a standard textbook on bipolar disorder, now in its second edition, titled Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression (2007).
In 1995, Dr. Jamison wrote a landmark book about bipolar disorders, An Unquiet Mind. What made this timeless work so distinctive is that Dr. Jamison has Bipolar 1 disorder herself. Her ability to share her personal experiences with the reader creates a unique contribution to the literature on this type of disorder that is not only valuable and informative, but interesting to read.
Wanting to pierce the veil of prejudice around mental illness, Dr. Jamison eloquently describes her personal struggle in making the decision to write this book. That decision also had professional implications, as she wondered if disclosing this information would negatively affect her standing as a physician.
Dr. Jamison discusses the seductive nature of mania. She describes its effect on making her and others with bipolar disorder resistant to faithfully taking medication. Dr. Jamison also helps the reader understand how the mania of bipolar disorder changes one’s perception of the world and loosens inhibitions. Conversely, depression changes one’s perception of the world and impairs the ability to function according to Dr. Jamison.
The financial and emotional consequences of mania and the inevitable plunge into depression and despair, over time, allowed Dr. Jamison to internalize the importance of managing her disease. Her self-reporting of her own struggle provides valuable insight to those trying to help others with bipolar disorder to achieve the same insight.
Dr. Jamison relies on the well-known pillars of medication and psychotherapy for managing bipolar disorder. In addition, she underscores the importance of the love and support she received from family, friends and colleagues. She confirms the healing power of structure, psychotherapy, a social network, and medication as the keys for her and others with this disorder as they struggle to function and thrive.
A minor criticism of the book is that Dr. Jamison did not address some coping factors that no doubt played an important role in her life. She has ample intellectual capacity. She grew up in a military family, which provided a solid foundation of structure and values. She also comes from loving, safe, and supportive family. All of these conditions contributed to her ability to manage her disease as an adult. As is common, Dr. Jamison remained undiagnosed until she was in graduate school in the mid 1970’s.
The mental health field is lucky to have Dr. Jamison as a respected authority and an advocate for Bipolar Disorder. Her prolific work helps raise society’s consciousness about the need to address the stigma of mental illness.
Other books by Dr. Jamison:
Manic-Depressive Illness (1990) (with F. Goodwin)
Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression (2nd ed., 2007)
(coauthored with F. Goodwin)
Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide (1999)
Touched With Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament (1993)
Exuberance: The Passion for Life (2004)
Nothing Was the Same: A Memoir (2009)
Learn more about Dr. Jamison at
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/expert_team/faculty/J/Jamison.html