Catherine Zeta-Jones' "Bipolar Disorder"

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 13, 2011
All Rights Reserved.                                         

         Checking into Silver Hill Hospital near New Canaan, Connecticut, 41-year Welsh beauty and actress Catherine Zeta-Jones—wife of 66-year-old Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas—was reportedly treated for bipolar disorder II, a condition characterized by mood swings and mania.  Her unnamed publicist said that the Oscar-winning actress checked in after a stressful year, due to her husband’s treatment for esophageal cancer.  “After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check in to a mental health facility for a brief stay to treat her bipolar II disorder,” said Jones’ spokesperson.  Silver Hill Hospital is better known for substance abuse treatment, including alcoholism and drug addiction.  Bipolar disorders are typically managed by outpatient psychiatrists and psychotherapists, for the right combination of medication and psychotherapy.

            Only the most dangerous varieties of bipolar disorder wind up in psychiatric hospitals, usually protecting patients from suicidal or violent propensities.  “She’s feeling great and looking forward to starting work this week on her two upcoming films,” insisted her publicist.  Zeta-Jones spent five days treating bipolar II symptoms that include, but are not limited to, insomnia, hypomania, mood swings, substance abuse and deteriorated functioning.  Her publicist mentioned nothing about her medication profile that would give far better picture as to her actual treatment.  Her publicist offered her diagnosis, namely, bipolar II, without giving any details.  While it’s tempting to take things at face value, it’s highly doubtful that she developed any variety of bipolar disorder from stressful life-circumstances.  Bioplar disorders involve a genetic, neurochemical imbalance.

                 Providing the details about her bipolar II diagnosis, attempt to minimize the severity of bipolar disorder I, characterized by extreme forms of mania and depression, sometimes requiring prolonged hospitalization, 24-hour monitoring for suicide or violence, heavy-duty medications and possibly electroconvulsive shock therapy [ECT].  Associated with bipolar disorder, are various kinds of self-destructive behaviors, including, suicidal thoughts and actions or alcohol and drug abuse.  It’s highly unusual for patients to go for inpatient treatment, like Silver Hill Hospital, without dangerous symptoms like substance abuse or suicidal propensities.  “She went in for a few days because she’s about to start working and wanted to make sure she’s in tip-top form, which she is,” insisted her publicist, making no sense.  People don’t go to mental hospitals to get tune-ups.

            When Catherine was interviewed by People Magazine in 2010 about her husband’s stage-4 throat cancer, she expressed outrage over the late diagnosis.  “It makes me furious they didn’t detect in earlier,” said Zeta-Jones.  “He sought every option and nothing was found,” uncertain whether she was referring to treatment options or the fact that Michael’s doctor missed the diagnosis.  Stressors like Michael’s cancer treatment or his ex-wife Diandra’s attempt to get more cash from his latest “Wall Street” movie don’t cause any type of bipolar disorder.  Bipolar disorders are more than wild mood swings, involving complex genetic, neurochemical-based mental disorders characterized by serve insomnia, restlessness, depressive and manic episodes, including suicide, requiring potent psychotropic medications to keep patients from cracking up.  Biopolar disorders often abuse alcohol and drugs.

              Seeking inpatient treatment is no easy decision for patients with bipolar disorder, typically imposed on them because of self-destructive or violent propensities.  Hospitalizations usually occur when the bipolar symptoms threaten a person’s life, including persistent rages, self-destructive acts and possibly suicidal thoughts or attempts.  Most bipolar conditions are managed by outpatient psychiatrists and psychotherapists, only requiring “rehab” or hospitalization when they become dangers to themselves or others.  Rarely do patients, as Zeta-Jones’ publicist suggests, seek hospitalization to get a tune-up to prevent breakdowns from upcoming stressful events, like her future movie deals.  While not reported, something dramatic must have occurred for Catherine to have been taken into “rehab.”  Only in-patient facilities, like Silver Hill Hospital, can protect patients from self-destructive impulses.

            Insiders in the mental health field know that Zeta-Jones didn’t voluntarily decide to seek hospitalization without some precipitating event.  Whether she became suicidal or was abusing alcohol or drugs is anyone’s guess.  Whether splitting hairs between bipolar I or II, all bipolar disorders involve major biochemical imbalances requiring powerful psychotropic medications to keep patients from breakdowns.  Most frequent breakdowns involve chronic insomnia leading to suicidal thoughts and behavior.  While stress can certainly send patients over the deep end, biochemical or hormonal gyrations largely account for the wild mood swings and acting out behavior that compromise patents’ survival.  When Zeta-Jones signed herself into Silver Hill Hospital, it most likely involved a self-destructive or addictive episode.  No patients choose hospitalization for a mental health tune-up.

About the Author

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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