Chris Brown booted from rehab, bipolar disorder to blame?
Chris Brown’s troubled career is well documented, and doctors say his outbursts and unpredictable behavior are likely the result of bipolar disorder. The musician was…
Chris Brown was booted from rehab after breaking several rules. (AP Photo/David McNew, Pool, File)
Chris Brown’s troubled career is well documented, and doctors say his outbursts and unpredictable behavior are likely the result of bipolar disorder. The musician was recently admitted to rehab by court order to deal with his anger issues.
After successfully completing a 95-day stint in the facility, Brown was ordered to complete an additional two months; a statement from the facility indicated that while the musician was indeed suffering from mood swings related to bipolar disorder, he also required treatment for severe insomnia and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
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“Mr. Brown became aggressive and acted out physically due to his untreated mental health disorder, severe sleep deprivation, inappropriate self-medicating and untreated PTSD,” state documents obtained by TMZ.
The extended stay in rehab didn’t go so well, however, according to the latest reports. Billboard indicates Chris Brown was booted from rehab and sent to jail after breaking several of the facility’s rules and making the comment, “I am good at using guns and knives.”
At the hearing regarding the rehab dismissal, facility representatives indicated Brown also refused to take a drug test while there, touched a female client on the elbow and made a statement considered alarming to staff members.
Mark Geragos, the musician’s attorney, said the comment Brown made that prompted concern was, “I’m going to ask my higher power to take away my troubles,” though the official report from staff members indicates Brown rolled his eyes and laughed at the time of the statement.
The judge presiding over the case was not amused, however, and ordered Chris Brown to serve a month in jail for his behaviors while in rehab.
Bipolar disorder and aggression
While there is little excuse for Chris Brown’s condescending and uncooperative action while in rehab, his mood swings are another story. Aggression linked to bipolar disorder has been well-documented. Individuals with bipolar disorder may be prone to agitation not only during manic episodes, but during depressed states and mixed modes of the condition.
“Studies have found that just under 50 percent of people with bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior. Bipolar patients are prone to agitation that may result in impulsive aggression during manic and mixed episodes,” states Psychiatric Times. “However, depressed states, which can involve intense dysphoria with agitation and irritability, may also carry a risk of violent behavior. Even during euthymia, bipolar patientsespecially those with comorbid features of borderline personality disordermay have chronic impulsivity that predisposes them to aggression.”
Chris Brown is most known for his physical altercation with girlfriend, Rihanna. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Treatment for aggression related to bipolar disorder is not easy; patients must be willing to undergo therapy involving both medication and outside intervention. For example, one of the primary ways of combating a violent episode is to employ the help of close family members and friends who can be an important part of symptom monitoring.
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To best address violent outbursts, warning signs must be noted and action taken before the violence escalates, and while coping skills are taught to individuals with bipolar disorder, those who have uncontrollable outbursts must be around people with the means to incapacitate them if they become a danger to themselves or others.
As for Chris Brown, his rehabilitation session has not been dubbed a complete failure; he did complete the initial 95 days without issue. His attorney was displeased with the judge’s lack of leniency.
“You know do you have a bad day? I have bad days sometimes,” Geragos said outside the courthouse. “Do you say things you’d like to take back? I certainly do. So I don’t know that being in a therapeutic session and you’re talking about your reflections and you say one sentence means you go to jail? Seems to me to be counterproductive to therapy.”
