Although van Gogh's history of mental illness has frequently been associated with schizophrenia over the years, researchers and experts have largely ruled out a possible diagnosis. Van Gogh's episodes of psychosis were brief and punctuated by periods of complete recovery.
Dietrich Blumer, M.D.
Henri Gastaut, in a study of the art- ist's life and medical history published in 1956, identified van Gogh's major illness during the last 2 years of his life as tempo- ral lobe epilepsy precipitated by the use of absinthe in the presence of an early limbic lesion.
Van Gogh was diagnosed with epilepsy and wrote frequently about the condition. There is a certain symmetry to an artist diagnosed with epilepsy “hiding” a self-portrait behind another artwork.
Bipolar disorder
Due to Van Gogh's extreme enthusiasm and dedication to first religion and then art coupled with the feverish pace of his art production many believe that mania was a prominent condition in Van Gogh's life. However, these episodes were always followed by exhaustion and depression and ultimately suicide.
Van Gogh, moreover, did not suffer from dementia, as can be seen from his writings and paintings right up until the end of his life. He did not show the symptoms of general paralysis, a well-known pathology at the time, or any signs of tabes.
Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration.
Vincent Van Gogh painted his now famous The Starry Night in Saint Rémy de Provence's psychiatric facility in June 1889 at the height of his prolific output, probably during an experience of mania.
Psychosis may be a symptom of a mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. However, a person can experience psychosis and never be diagnosed with schizophrenia or any other disorder.
The typical course of a psychotic episode can be thought of as having three phases: Prodrome Phase, Acute Phase, and Recovery Phase.
A psychotic episode or disorder will result in the presence of one or more of the following five categories: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thought, disorganized behavior, negative symptoms.
Vincent van Gogh spent one year in the mental hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Despite his unstable mental health, he was very productive: he made about 150 paintings in a year, including Almond Blossom. Advertisement for the mental hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
“I dream my painting and I paint my dream”
This quote captures the essence of his approach to art. For Van Gogh, the painting was not just about creating a visual representation of something but rather about expressing the emotions and impressions that he experienced in his dreams and imagination.
The Oslo self portrait is a highly disturbing image, depicting the artist just as he was emerging from a severe mental crisis. According to Louis van Tilborgh, the Amsterdam museum's senior researcher, it is the “only work Van Gogh is known to have painted while suffering from psychosis”.
Adverse effects were the most common cause for lithium discontinuation. Among the adverse effects, diarrhoea, tremor, creatinine increase, polyuria/polydipsia/diabetes insipidus and weight gain were the top five reasons for discontinuing lithium.
As he lay on his death bed, having apparently shot himself, Vincent Van Gogh is said to have uttered the final words, "The sadness will last forever". It's hard to imagine a bleaker prophecy from the famed and deeply troubled Dutch artist.
“Of all the artists with whom Picasso identified, Van Gogh is the least often cited but probably the one that meant the most to him in later years. He talked of him as his patron saint, talked of him with intense admiration and compassion, never with any of his habitual irony or mockery.
It is good to love many things, for therein lies strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done with love is well done. ”
A Year in the Psychiatric Institution
Accompanied by the Reverend Fréderic Salles, Vincent arrived at the psychiatric hospital on 8 May 1889. He would eventually spend a year there. 'Mr Vincent was perfectly calm and explained his illness to the director himself.
This one's easy: no, Vincent didn't have any children.
People who have psychotic episodes are often totally unaware their behaviour is in any way strange or that their delusions or hallucinations are not real. They may recognise delusional or bizarre behaviour in others, but lack the self-awareness to recognise it in themselves.
Hearing, seeing, tasting or believing things that others don't. Persistent, unusual thoughts or beliefs that can't be set aside regardless of what others believe. Strong and inappropriate emotions or no emotions at all. Withdrawing from family or friends.