Virginia Woolf, neuroprogression, and bipolar disorder

Family history and traumatic experiences are factors linked to bipolar disorder. It is known that the lifetime risk of bipolar disorder in relatives of a bipolar proband are 5-10% for first degree relatives and 40-70% for monozygotic co-twins. It is also known that patients with early childhood trauma present earlier onset of bipolar disorder, increased number of manic episodes, and more suicide attempts. We have recently reported that childhood trauma partly mediates the effect of family history on bipolar disorder diagnosis. In light of these findings from the scientific literature, we reviewed the work of British writer Virginia Woolf, who allegedly suffered from bipolar disorder. Her disorder was strongly related to her family background. Moreover, Virginia Woolf was sexually molested by her half siblings for nine years. Her bipolar disorder symptoms presented a pernicious course, associated with hospitalizations, suicidal behavioral, and functional impairment. The concept of neuroprogression has been used to explain the clinical deterioration that takes places in a subgroup of bipolar disorder patients. The examination of Virgina Woolf’s biography and art can provide clinicians with important insights about the course of bipolar disorder.

Virginia Woolf, neuroprogression, and bipolar disorder.

Family history and traumatic experiences are factors linked to bipolar disorder. It is known that the lifetime risk of bipolar disorder in relatives of a bipolar proband are 5-10% for first degree relatives and 40-70% for monozygotic co-twins. It is also known that patients with early childhood trauma present earlier onset of bipolar disorder, increased number of manic episodes, and more suicide attempts. We have recently reported that childhood trauma partly mediates the effect of family history on bipolar disorder diagnosis. In light of these findings from the scientific literature, we reviewed the work of British writer Virginia Woolf, who allegedly suffered from bipolar disorder. Her disorder was strongly related to her family background. Moreover, Virginia Woolf was sexually molested by her half siblings for nine years. Her bipolar disorder symptoms presented a pernicious course, associated with hospitalizations, suicidal behavioral, and functional impairment. The concept of neuroprogression has been used to explain the clinical deterioration that takes places in a subgroup of bipolar disorder patients. The examination of Virgina Woolf's biography and art can provide clinicians with important insights about the course of bipolar disorder.

História familial em tentativa de suicídio / Familial history in attempts suicide

A historia familial de 50 pessoas que tentaram suicídio foi analisada para determinar se pessoas que tentam suicídio têm maior agregação familial em relação aos controles normais e determinar a psicopatologia nos familiais. A amostra inclui 322 parentes em primeiro grau de 50 pacientes que tentaram suicídio (para-suicida) e 341 parentes em primeiro grau de 50 controles cirúrgicos e obstétricos. Comparar a prevalência ao longo da vida de transtornos mentais e condutas suicidas em parentes em primeiro grau de controles co parentes em primeiro grau de parassuicidas. O instrumento utilizado para o diagnóstico foi baseado nos critérios diagnósticos DSM III-R., eixo I. A coleta de dados dos familiais foi através do método de história familial utilizando critérios diagnósticos para pesquisa. Os parentes em primeiro grau de pacientes parassuicidas têm significativamente maiores transtornos psiquiátricos que os pacientes de controles normais. Os pacientes que tiveram tentativa de suicídio tiveram maior risco de condutas suicidas entre os familiais em primeiro grau que o grupo controle. O presente estudo sugere uma agregação familial para tentativa de suicídio e a importãncia do clínico reconhecer a presen;a de distúrbios mentais nos membros de famílias.