E01 | Health Investigation | Bipolar Disorder: From One Extreme to the Other

Are We All Bipolar? We all experience mood swings in life. But when emotions become too intense, leading to uncontrollable reactions and all kinds of extreme behavior, we’re talking about bipolar disorder—a condition that affects more than one million people in France. In recent years, this disorder has regularly been in the media spotlight. Benoît Poelvoorde, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jim Carrey… Many are said to suffer from bipolar disorder and have spoken openly about it. Yet, far from being a passing fad, it is a serious and highly debilitating mental illness. Switching from euphoria to depression in a matter of days is what characterizes this disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive psychosis. Excitement, grandiose plans, sadness, and an inability to experience pleasure are the lot of patients who must learn to manage these erratic moods. Despite these signs, it takes more than 10 years on average for a diagnosis to be made. This medical delay can have dramatic consequences. One in two patients will attempt suicide at least once in their lifetime. What are the causes and symptoms of bipolar disorder? Are there effective treatments? And is a cure possible? Through patient testimonials, *Enquête de santé* sheds light on this multifaceted condition.