World of Psychology

An Interview with Patty Duke, Bipolar Sufferer

By John M. Grohol, PsyD
Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Patty Duke is best known for her roles as identical twin cousins in The Patty Duke Show and her portrayal of Helen Keller in the movie The Miracle Worker at age 16, which earned her an Academy Award and made her the youngest winner at the time. She’s earned three Emmys from six nominations, two Golden Globes, and a People’s Choice Award during her career.

But behind the scenes, her behavior was erratic, earning her a bad rep with Hollywood insiders, not to mention her own family.

It took many years, but in 1982, at the age of 35, Duke was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Since then she’s become the bestselling author of Call Me Anna and A Brilliant Madness (coauthored with Gloria Hochman). She currently travels around the country to educate others about this often devastating disorder.

Read the full interview here on Everyday Health.



    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 19 Dec 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

APA Reference
Grohol, J. (2007). An Interview with Patty Duke, Bipolar Sufferer. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 23, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/12/19/an-interview-with-patty-duke-bipolar-sufferer/

 

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