Suicide
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison explains that the decision to commit suicide is usually the result of prolonged depression and hopelessness. In some cases, Dr. Jamison notes, those who make this choice do so because they don'...
Support From Colleagues
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison explains that she has had the full support of her colleagues at both Johns Hopkins and UCLA. She adds, however, that some people are occasionally condescending and treat her differently. "It's ...
Suicide and Psychiatric Disorders
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison talks about the irrefutable link between psychiatric disorders and suicide, especially among young people.
Family Reaction to Manic-Depressive Illness
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison reveals that, although manic-depressive illness runs rampant in her family, nobody discussed it when her own symptoms first appeared.
Genetic and Bipolar Illness
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison explains that an individual who has one parent with bipolar illness has a one in fifteen chance of having bipolar illness. The odds go up enormously if both parents have bipolar illness. "If yo...
Bipolar Illness or Manic-Depressive Illness?
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison explains that "manic-depressive illness" is a more exact and descriptive term than "bipolar disorder." Dr. Jamison acknowledges, however, that some people prefer to use the term "bipolar" becau...
Bipolar Illness and Depression
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison talks about the confusion that sometimes occurs during attempts to diagnose or characterize psychiatric illnesses. "The evidence has been clear for a long time," Dr. Jamison explains, "that the...
Decision To Stop Treating Patients, The
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison talks about her decision to stop seeing patients after her book was published and she went public about her illness. "I had written a very personal book," Dr. Jamison says, "and I felt very str...
Helping Someone Who's Suicidal
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison makes a number of suggestions about what to do if someone is talking about suicide or appears to be suicidal. "Just be direct," Dr. Jamison advises. "Talk openly in a practical, down to earth m...
Helping Those In Need
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison explains that getting someone with a psychiatric disorder into treatment is very hard, and keeping them there can be even harder. A related challenge, Dr. Jamison notes, is convincing patients ...