| It has not been until recently that the term "bipolar | | | | World War II, an Australian psychiatrist named John |
| disorder" has been used to represent what has | | | | Cade was the first to discover that lithium carbonate |
| always been a misunderstood condition. The ancient | | | | could be used to treat manic depressive psychosis. |
| Greeks were aware of it, and the ancient Chinese | | | | At this time during the history of bipolar disorder, |
| had written about it in an encyclopedia. Yet, it was | | | | many experts feared that table salt substitutes could |
| not until 1957 that the terms "bipolar" and "unipolar" | | | | be toxic or fatal. So, it wasn't until the 1950s that |
| were first used. Learning the history of bipolar | | | | American hospitals experimented with this knowledge. |
| disorder helps us to both understand and appreciate | | | | Lithium was eventually approved for treatment by |
| the many advancements that have been made in the | | | | the Food and Drug Administration in 1970. In 1968, |
| field today. Knowing about the history of the disorder | | | | the condition was reclassified as an illness (manic |
| will also provide us with hope for further | | | | depressive illness). Recently, the term "bipolar |
| advancements that are certain to come in the future. | | | | disorder" has become more common. Many prefer |
| From Ancient Descriptions to the Modern Day | | | | the older term because it more accurately describes |
| Disease Excluding the ancient Greeks and Chinese, | | | | the condition as an illness rather than a disorder. |
| not much research was done in the history of bipolar | | | | Famous Sufferers of Bipolar Disorder In History |
| disorder until the 1900s. In 1902, Emil Kraepelin, a | | | | There were many famous people that displayed the |
| German psychiatrist who lived from 1856-1926, began | | | | classic symptoms of bipolar disorder, even though |
| to study the disorder in more depth. Kraepelin | | | | they were never diagnosed or treated. These |
| monitored the natural progression of untreated | | | | historical sufferers of bipolar disorder include Virginia |
| bipolar patients. In his notes, he described his patients | | | | Woolf, Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Leo |
| by using the term "manic depressive psychosis." This | | | | Tolstoy, Ernest Hemmingway, and Abraham Lincoln. |
| was the first time in the history of bipolar disorder | | | | A Promising Future Though it took hundreds of years |
| that such a precise term had ever been used. In | | | | to research, classify, and treat bipolar disorder, we |
| 1954, two French scientists individually presented their | | | | still have a long way to go before a cure can be |
| theories regarding a "biphasic mental illness" that | | | | found. Yet, the history of bipolar disorder provides |
| consisted of reoccurring cycles of depression and | | | | the hope that long strides can be made in just a |
| mania. One of these scientists, Jules Baillarger, called | | | | short period of time. |
| the illness folie a double forme (dual-form insanity). | | | | Brought to you as a courtesy from Bipolar Disorder |
| The other scientist, Jean-Pierre Falret, referred to the | | | | Center, a member of the Bipolar Support network. |
| condition as folie circulaire (circular insanity). After | | | | |