In his book A Mind that Found Itself, Clifford Whittington Beers (1981) writes about his own bout with mental illness, a slowly developing psychosis that resulted in the brutal treatment of the day, the slow loss of sanity, and the eventual triumphant recovery of the man. In the book, the author describes his affective symptoms, and an analysis of these symptoms can serve for a comparison with the known symptoms of bipolar mood disorder as understood today.
The textbook states that to be medically diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder, the individual must have a history of one or more manic episodes, usually accompanied by a history of episodes of major depression. The patient during these manic episodes usually exhibits an elated mood so pronounced and sustained that every good thing is considered possible and ever wish it to be fulfilled. At this stage, ideas emerge in an easy and fluid manner. Mental workings are improved as thinking seems effortless and memory is better. The individual experiences a sense of personal security, and his or her fears diminish. The individual may also be aggressive and opinionated, and it may be difficult to get him or her to stop talking. At the same time, he or she will jump form one idea to the next in a rapid manner. The person may also be domineering and irritable, as well as hypercritical of everything that interferes with the desire for free action. The person is often overactive and will have a decreased need for sleep. The person has an interest in the outside world rather than in the self, and he or she can almost be said to be at the mercy of the environment.
At another time, this same person may exhibit very different behavior, being sad, with difficulty in thinking and expressing thoughts, and slow in physical responses. The person may be agitated. He or she may have difficulty in formulating answers, may lose the ability to concentrate, and may not be able to choose a d...