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Article: Suicide and manic-depressive illness in artists and writers. (Mental Illness and National Policy)
- Article from:
- National Forum
- Article date:
- January 1, 1993
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Manic-depressive illness is a relatively common, very treatable, and yet frequently lethal illness. Together with depressive illness, manic-depression (also known as bipolar disorder) accounts for at least three-fourths of all suicides; yet most people who suffer from these forms of severe depression neither seek nor receive treatment for their illnesses. Manic-depressive illness is also far more likely to occur in artists, writers, and composers; likewise, suicide is far more frequent in highly successful and creative individuals than it is in the general population. We will return to these points after a brief description of manic-depressive illness itself.
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