February 15, 2009
You change your diagnosis like a girl changes clothes:
A recently published study in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that clinicians are less likely to suggest a diagnosis of bipolar disorder if the patient is described as having recently fallen in love, even if they are reported to have all the necessary symptoms.
I notice that Katy Perry addressed exactly this issue in her global pop hit Hot N' Cold.
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're downSomeone call the doctor
Got a case of a love bipolar
Perry clearly demonstrates that she's not subject to this particular diagnostic bias as she is able to recognise that the patient has fallen in love, but also qualifies for a diagnosis of bipolar based solely on presenting features.
Link to PubMed entry for study.
Link to video of Katy Perry's Hot N' Cold.
