[…] wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt So now that Britney Spears has left the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, questions are swirling around whether or not she may have bipolar disorder, a serious mental disorder characterized by mood swings between extreme depression and mania (e.g., high energy). When bipolar disorder is left untreated — whether via medications or other methods — people with this disorder can go back and forth between these two extremes (called “cycling”). If it happens a few times a week (or even a da […]

[…] Here’s another interesting post I read today by - World of Psychology […]

[…] Britney Spears May Have Bipolar Disorder Some of the more cynical amongst us might suggest he is just looking to exploit this poor woman’s unfortunate situation. […]

[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]

[…] Britney Spears May Have Bipolar Disorder […]

I read Dr. Phil’s comments on the BBC website, and I was offended. It reminded me of that shrink who’d treated Nicole Simpson and made a statement to the press which helped corrupt the OJ case. He doesn’t appear to be licensed any more in Texas, nor in California. And of course it’s about his show. Check out his website: http://www.drphil.com/ today and you’ll see “Britney Spears Exclusive–Don’t Miss Tuesday’s Dr. Phil Now. My son watched a few minutes of a Dr. Phil episode with me and said, “In what way is this different from Jerry Springer?” I replied, “They aren’t encouraged to hit each other onstage.” If that guy *had* a license, it should be revoked. (and check out his dissertation topic–I looked it up awhile ago, and it was something about using biofeedback against anger. It didn’t sound impressive, or like much of a contribution to the world of science.

[…] Britney spears may have bipolar disorder So now that Britney Spears has left the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, questions are swirling around whether or not she may have bipolar disorder, a serious mental disorder characterized by mood swings between extreme depression and mania (e.g., high energy). When bipolar disorder is left untreated — whether via medications or other methods — people with this disorder can go back and forth between these two extremes (called “cycling”). If it happens a few times a week (or even a day), the person would have what’s called “rapid cycling,” but it’s more common for people to cycle between the two moods more slowly, over a few weeks’ or months’ time. The rumor about her possible bipolar disorder diagnosis comes from friends close to both Britney Spears and her ex-husband, Keven Federline, and is being reported by some news agencies as fact. We don’t know, however, and we will try and be respectful of the fact that Ms. Spears may not want this information to be made publicly available (although it seems the cat is already out of the bag). News media are also reporting that Dr. Phil met with Britney and her family members for an hour today to talk about, well, we don’t really know. Dr. Phil McGraw says he was there to try and help her, but I suspect that “help” also involved a plea to appear on his talk show. Some of the more cynical amongst us might suggest he is just looking to exploit this poor woman’s unfortunate situation. But what else would you expect from this guy? He’s an entertainer first and foremost, and this sort of drama makes for riveting entertainment. Whether all of this is “good” or not, I can’t yet say. If it leads more people to learn more about bipolar disorder (and mental illness in general), I’d say it is helpful. In a celebrity-driven society (as we seem to increasingly be), it may take the famous people to help others understand the symptoms and impact of some of these disorders. What’s to become of Britney now? After losing the custody battle, for the moment, to ex-husband Kevin Federline, she is likely suffering from some feelings of loss and grief. Add on top of that the media circus that is following her around L.A., and it’s unlikely she’s going to find much peace unless she removes herself completely from the Hollywood scene, and take a month or two off someplace remote and therapeutic. (Source: World of Psychology) […]

[…] Britney spears may have bipolar disorder So now that Britney Spears has left the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, questions are swirling around whether or not she may have bipolar disorder, a serious mental disorder characterized by mood swings between extreme depression and mania (e.g., high energy). When bipolar disorder is left untreated — whether via medications or other methods — people with this disorder can go back and forth between these two extremes (called “cycling”). If it happens a few times a week (or even a day), the person would have what’s called “rapid cycling,” but it’s more common for people to cycle between the two moods more slowly, over a few weeks’ or months’ time. The rumor about her possible bipolar disorder diagnosis comes from friends close to both Britney Spears and her ex-husband, Keven Federline, and is being reported by some news agencies as fact. We don’t know, however, and we will try and be respectful of the fact that Ms. Spears may not want this information to be made publicly available (although it seems the cat is already out of the bag). News media are also reporting that Dr. Phil met with Britney and her family members for an hour today to talk about, well, we don’t really know. Dr. Phil McGraw says he was there to try and help her, but I suspect that “help” also involved a plea to appear on his talk show. Some of the more cynical amongst us might suggest he is just looking to exploit this poor woman’s unfortunate situation. But what else would you expect from this guy? He’s an entertainer first and foremost, and this sort of drama makes for riveting entertainment. Whether all of this is “good” or not, I can’t yet say. If it leads more people to learn more about bipolar disorder (and mental illness in general), I’d say it is helpful. In a celebrity-driven society (as we seem to increasingly be), it may take the famous people to help others understand the symptoms and impact of some of these disorders. What’s to become of Britney now? After losing the custody battle, for the moment, to ex-husband Kevin Federline, she is likely suffering from some feelings of loss and grief. Add on top of that the media circus that is following her around L.A., and it’s unlikely she’s going to find much peace unless she removes herself completely from the Hollywood scene, and take a month or two off someplace remote and therapeutic. (Source: World of Psychology) […]

I agree it seems that maybe this could be a good thing considering that most people seem to think that depression and Bi-polar disorder are not a serious disease and do not really understand or care to find out how it really effects the people who are suffering from it. I would say that because our world is all about the famous people that maybe their hearts will go out to her and then make them want to do research and find out about it and since it is the famous people that are setting the standards for today’s world as scary as that is, it could be helpful for the rest of us fighting the battle to just get people to want to understand what we go through everyday.

[…] Disability in the Media: Celebrities and Psychiatry I’ve been struggling to come up with an entry for this month’s Disability Blog Carnival, the theme of which is “Disability in the Media.” In terms of psychiatric disability, this has been quite a year: first we had Owen Wilson’s attempted suicide and battle with depression. The latest, of course, is media speculation about whether or not Britney Spears has bipolar disorder. I tend to agree that these events are a mixed blessing — if they help to raise awareness and greater sensitivity towards individuals with mental illness, that would be great. Unfortunately, I think the reports on Spears are just going to reinforce the same old, same old. […]

[…] This is all so tragic. She needs help, possibly treatment for bipolar disorder — and she’s not going to get it from the paparazzi (or dating one, either). […]

[…] This is all so tragic. She needs help, possibly treatment for bipolar disorder — and she’s not going to get it from the paparazzi (or dating one, either). […]

I truly hope that Britney can move somewhere remote for a year or so, piece her life back together, and then come back out in full force.
She should ditch alcohol, smoking, and over eating and move to Montana or something.

I suffer from bipolar disorder..er..manic depression (let’s call it what it is)and when I saw the video of Britney in 5 point restraint going into the ambulance with that *look* in her eyes…I just knew we shared this disorder. She may also have more complications in the mental illness spectrum judging from some of the *press*

However, now with heath ledger gone (accident my ass, these were meds, not recreational drugs he ingested) Now maybe he did them more spontaneously than with a plan, but he, even if for a brief moment, wanted to end it all. THIS IS DEPRESSION…..period.

With these two young and beautiful memebers of American royality now in the open about mood disorders and mental illness in general, maybe we will see an ease the stigma of these maladies and move forward on accepting them and helping those that cannot help themselves. I say this because for every successful and wealthy person that has the disorder, there is one that is barely getting by because they can’t make ends meet du to an inability to function in a *normal* world. Treating these illnesses is not an exact science with little in diagonstic tools to work with. Medications aren’t a panacea necessarily either. They help, lots, but not always and completely. Let’s all hope something good comes out of these high profile tragedies.

Bipolar Disorder is probably the diagosis that she’ll end up with, but that doesnt make it an accurate diagnosis. Bipolar Disorder is the current flavor of the month in the world of psychiatry, much like ADHD is with children. What most “clinicans to the stars” are trying to avoid is an Axis II diagnosis of Histrionic Personality Disorder or Borderline Personality Disorder. These diagnoses are usually avoided by psychiatrist because the medical model is of little use. Extended peroids of psychotherapy and life coaching is not the answer that most clients want to hear. I have no doubt that there is a depressive componet associated with Britney’s behavior, but the onset appears to be in direct correlation with situational stressors. Britney will be given a great disservice if the extent of her treatment is a merry-go-round of SSR’s and mood stabilizers…

[…] This is all so tragic. She needs help, possibly treatment for bipolar disorder — and she’s not going to get it from the paparazzi (or dating one, either). […]

first off dr. phil is a jack ass who makes his living off of austrisizing (spelling error) kids he is a behavior therapist who only focuses on what he can see and not what cant be sen like what is going on in the brain. Second theraputic intervention does not work for bipolar people the only thing that does is medication specifically lithium but nobody wants to prescribe it. Third what people forget or dont know is BPD is genetic which means you can see charateristics and traits and other family memeber like alcholic dad, suicidal grandma, and pregant little sistser. I dont know to much about mom I havent had the chance to observe her in the media but i suspect she has it too. Oh by the way those little boys need to be looked out for BPD because mother can pass it to child

I agree- Borderline Personality Disorder (which is not a ‘disorder’ per se, but more of a behavioral diagnosis; often forms because of abuse, and requires life coaching. It’s pretty common with celebrities. I’m sure Britney Spears has been made aware of the possibility, but it’s the public that is being disserved by the label of Bipolar from her behavior.