@article{discovery10047103,
           month = {September},
         journal = {Issues in Mental Health Nursing},
           pages = {858--864},
            note = {{\copyright} 2017 Taylor \& Francis Group, LLC. This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.},
       publisher = {TAYLOR \& FRANCIS INC},
          volume = {38},
            year = {2017},
           title = {"Being Bipolar": A Qualitative Analysis of the Experience of Bipolar Disorder as Described in Internet Blogs},
          number = {10},
        keywords = {Science \& Technology, Life Sciences \& Biomedicine, Nursing, Psychiatry, PREVALENCE, SPECTRUM},
            issn = {1096-4673},
             url = {http://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2017.1355947},
          author = {Mandla, A and Billings, J and Moncrieff, J},
        abstract = {In the light of debates about the nature of bipolar disorder (BD), the current article presents a thematic analysis of Internet "blogs" by self-identified bipolar sufferers. Extreme and frequent fluctuation of mood was considered the principal feature of BD, along with a broad range of other problems. BD was often invoked as an explanation for life difficulties or lack of achievement, and was mostly regarded as a brain disease. Most bloggers emphasized the importance of drug treatment, along with the self-management techniques. The blogs present a "bipolar identity," which is much broader than traditional definitions, are based on a medicalized model of the disorder, and are connected to the moral function of enabling people to externalize unwanted aspects of the self.}
}