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"Being Bipolar": A Qualitative Analysis of the Experience of Bipolar Disorder as Described in Internet Blogs

Mandla, A; Billings, J; Moncrieff, J; (2017) "Being Bipolar": A Qualitative Analysis of the Experience of Bipolar Disorder as Described in Internet Blogs. Issues in Mental Health Nursing , 38 (10) pp. 858-864. 10.1080/01612840.2017.1355947. Green open access

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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.

Type: Article
Title: "Being Bipolar": A Qualitative Analysis of the Experience of Bipolar Disorder as Described in Internet Blogs
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2017.1355947
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2017.1355947
Language: English
Additional information: © 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.
Keywords: Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Nursing, Psychiatry, PREVALENCE, SPECTRUM
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10047103
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