A Brilliant Madness

By Patty Duke

In her revealing bestseller Call Me Anna, Patty Duke shared her long-kept secret: the Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress was suffering from a serious-but-treatable-mental illness called manic depression. For nearly twenty years, until she was correctly diagnosed at age thirty-five, she careened between periods of extreme euphoria and debilitating depression, prone to delusions and panic attacks, temper tantrums, spending sprees, and suicide attempts. In this text, the actress joins with medical reporter Gloria Hochman to shed light on illness. From what it’s like to live with manic-depressive disorder to the latest findings on its most effective treatments, this book provides insight into the challenge of mental illness. It also offers hope for all those who suffer from mood disorders and for the family, friends, and physicians who love and care for them.

First published 1992