Bipolar disorder as a medical term came into use in 1980, when psychiatrists agreed to do away with the term “manic depressive”, being concerned the word “manic” often led to patients being described as “maniacs”. Photo: Shutterstock
Bipolar disorder as a medical term came into use in 1980, when psychiatrists agreed to do away with the term “manic depressive”, being concerned the word “manic” often led to patients being described as “maniacs”. Photo: Shutterstock
Sadie Kaye
Opinion

Opinion

Sadie Kaye

I’m bipolar, and seeing the word in headlines on a divided world living with the menace of nuclear war does not help

  • Psychiatrists appropriating a political term to ‘better’ describe manic depression only muddied our condition with images of global relations falling apart
  • Maybe it’s time to choose a new word for ‘bipolar’, one that doesn’t inadvertently cause discomfort and disconnect for already stigmatised groups

Sadie Kaye
Sadie Kaye

Updated: 9:15am, 14 Jun, 2022

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Bipolar disorder as a medical term came into use in 1980, when psychiatrists agreed to do away with the term “manic depressive”, being concerned the word “manic” often led to patients being described as “maniacs”. Photo: Shutterstock
Bipolar disorder as a medical term came into use in 1980, when psychiatrists agreed to do away with the term “manic depressive”, being concerned the word “manic” often led to patients being described as “maniacs”. Photo: Shutterstock
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