Kay Redfield Jamison: A Life Defined by Bipolar Disorder and Psychology
Kay Redfield Jamison is a figure whose professional expertise and personal struggles are inextricably linked. Describing herself as an "exuberant" person, Jamison has long navigated the tension between a desire for tranquility and a natural inclination toward a more tumultuous existence. In her reflections, she acknowledges that life is inherently complicated and changing, arguing that the moments of restlessness and "maddened enthusiasms" are precisely what provide meaning and color to one's work, loves, and friendships.
Key Facts
- Professional Focus: Expert in psychology with a specific interest in mood disorders.
- Personal Diagnosis: Lives with bipolar disorder, a condition characterized by extreme mood swings.
- Academic Affiliation: Professor in the Department of Psychology at UCLA.
- Medical Treatment: Managed her condition primarily with lithium, a mood-regulating medication.
- Family History: Born to Dr. Marshall Verdine Jamison and Mary Dell Temple Jamison; her father and other relatives also had bipolar disorder.
Early Life and Academic Journey
Born to Dr. Marshall Verdine Jamison, a U.S. Air Force officer, and Mary Dell Temple Jamison, Kay's childhood was marked by frequent moves due to her father's military career. She spent time in various locations, including Florida, Puerto Rico, California, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. From a young age, her parents fostered her interest in science and medicine, a passion she pursued early on by working as a candy striper at the hospital on Andrews Air Force Base.
During her adolescence in California and her subsequent time at UCLA, Jamison began struggling with the onset of bipolar disorder. While she initially aspired to become a medical doctor, the increasing frequency of manic episodes—periods of abnormally elevated energy and mood—convinced her that she could not sustain the rigorous discipline required for medical school. This realization led her to the field of psychology, where she flourished and developed a deep specialization in mood disorders.
Diagnosis and the Struggle with Treatment
Despite her academic focus on the subject, Jamison did not realize she was bipolar herself until three months into her first role as a professor at UCLA. Following her diagnosis, she began treatment with lithium, a drug commonly used to regulate and moderate mood swings in bipolar patients.
Her relationship with medication was complex. At times, she refused lithium because it impaired her motor skills. However, after experiencing a severe depression, she committed to the treatment. The volatility of the condition remained a challenge; during one particularly severe depressive episode, Jamison attempted suicide by overdosing on lithium.
Personal Life and Relationships
Jamison is an Episcopalian who has navigated several significant relationships throughout her life. During her graduate studies, she was married to her first husband, an artist named Alain André Moreau. In 1994, she married Dr. Richard Wyatt, a psychiatrist who studied schizophrenia at the National Institutes of Health. Their relationship, which lasted until his death in 2002, is documented in her memoir Nothing Was the Same.
In 2010, Jamison married Thomas Traill, a professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Education/Career | Professor of Psychology at UCLA |
| Medical Condition | Bipolar Disorder (Hereditary) |
| Primary Medication | Lithium |
| Notable Works | An Unquiet Mind, Nothing Was the Same |
| Family Connections | Niece of writer Leslie Jamison |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kay Redfield Jamison change her career goal from medicine to psychology?
Jamison originally wanted to be a doctor, but she decided she could not maintain the rigorous discipline necessary for medical school due to increasing manic episodes associated with her bipolar disorder.
When was Jamison officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder?
She was diagnosed three months into her first job as a professor in the Department of Psychology at UCLA.
What medication did Jamison use to manage her mood disorder?
She used lithium, a drug used to regulate and moderate moods, although she occasionally struggled with its side effects on her motor skills.
Did Kay Redfield Jamison have a family history of mental illness?
Yes, her father, Dr. Marshall Verdine Jamison, and several other family members had bipolar disorder.
Who was Richard Wyatt?
Dr. Richard Wyatt was a psychiatrist who studied schizophrenia at the National Institutes of Health and was Jamison's second husband from 1994 until his death in 2002.