Bipolar Disorder in Spouses, Family, and Loved Ones

Many people know the term “bipolar disorder,” but few understand what mania actually looks like, how depression presents, or why recognizing the warning signs can be so difficult. In this episode, host Gabe Howard sits down with ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) Member expert Bruce M. Cohen, MD, PhD. Dr. Cohen is a psychiatrist, Harvard Medical School professor, and former president and psychiatrist-in-chief of McLean Hospital. Together, they break down the realities of bipolar disorder, including the differences between bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia. Listeners will learn: how some risk-taking behaviors could be warning signs how distinguishing bipolar from personality traits requires careful evaluation how caregivers need support and self-care to be effective They also tackle an important question: When is someone simply energetic, dramatic, or outgoing — and when could those traits point to a mental health condition? Using real-world examples and decades of clinical experience, Dr. Cohen explains how mental health professionals distinguish personality from illness. If you've ever wondered what bipolar disorder really looks like — or how to help someone who may be struggling — this episode is for you. We would like to thank McLean Hospital for providing educational support for this episode. “I've been doing this for 50 years and I've focused on psychotic disorders and bipolar disorders. [. . .] Most of them lead good lives and they're successful.” ~Bruce M. Cohen, MD, PhD Our guest, Bruce M. Cohen, MD, PhD, is the Robertson-Steele Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and President/Psychiatrist-in-Chief Emeritus at McLean Hospital. Currently, as Director of the Program for Neuropsychiatric Research at McLean/Mass General Brigham, he leads a consortium using cell culture, genomic, pharmacologic, brain imaging, and clinical studies to increase understanding and develop new treatments for psychiatric disorders. This work is particularly focused on identifying inherent factors that might be modulated to reduce the risk of illness. Convergent evidence from these studies highlights key factors underlying risk for illness, prominently including abnormalities of energy production and brain cell growth and maturation. These abnormalities affect brain development, brain remodeling during adolescence, and brain repair with age. In addition, his work has documented evidence-based dimensional approaches for diagnosing psychiatric disorders that describe each person seeking treatment more accurately and thoroughly than standard diagnostic models. Collaborating investigators work at McLean, the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, and international sites. Following undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduate (molecular genetic) and medical studies at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Cohen completed his residency training at McLean. He was co-founder of a Clinical Research Center, founding Director of McLean’s Brain Imaging Center, and director of McLean’s Residency Training Program, and a Vice President at McLean, before becoming President and Psychiatrist-in-Chief of the hospital. Under his leadership, McLean, which was struggling financially, established over 30 new programs, became financially stable and grew to treat more patients, perform more research, and teach more trainees than at any time in its distinguished history. He has taught locally, at McLean, Harvard Medical School, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as lecturing nationally and worldwide to academic and lay audiences. He has directed continuously funded translational research projects and centers for 48 years. Dr. Cohen has over 400 publications and 5 awarded patents. He authored one popular book for lay audiences and has chapters in 19 textbooks. He has consulted to industry and clinical centers. He has been featured in national publications as one of the best doctors in America, been named Psychiatrist of the Year twice by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts, and has won awards for research, teaching, and clinical care. Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.