In this article, Ed Welch explores the diagnosis of ‘bipolar disorder’ in an essay a review of four contemporary books on the problem: The Bipolar Survival Guide by David J. Miklowitz, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Bipolar Disorder by Monica R. Basco and A. John Rush, The Ups and Downs of Raising a Bipolar Child: A Survival Guide for Parents by Judith Lederman and Candida Fink and An Unquiet Mind by Kay Jamison. Welch observes that although Scripture does not use the word “bipolar,” it does describe the kinds of symptoms clustered under this label. Welch concludes that Christian counselors should look carefully at the behaviors a person displays, consider the spiritual issues that underlie the symptoms, and interpret these behaviors in light of Scripture.
